asked whether the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows has received permission from the Insurance Commissioners to make its own arrangements for medical benefit, or whether that society has entered into an agreement with the Commissioners as to the provision of medical benefit to insured persons after 15th January?

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, like other societies, has entered into the normal agreement under Section 15 (6) with the Commissioners as to the amount to be paid over from the sums standing to the credit of the society in the National Health Insurance Funds to the Insurance Committees towards the expenditure incurred by the latter committees in providing medical benefit; but, as has been officially stated in the public Press, both by the Commissioners and by the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, no request has been received from or permission been given to this society to make its own arrangements for medical benefit.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the sum is?

No, I am not sure what agreement has been made.