representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if he can state, approximately, how much further assistance per annum to the cause of national insurance is represented by the increased rate of interest credited upon the invested funds of approved societies?

The increase in the prescribed rate of interest as from January, 1918, will result in an additional sum of approximately £250,000 per annum being made available for immediate credit to approved societies. My hon. Friend will, of course, appreciate the fact that while the prescribed rate of interest may vary from time to time with changing circumstances, the whole of the income of the investment account must be applied to National Health Insurance purposes.