asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total contributions made to national funds by the various beneficiaries of social services during the last year for which figures are available?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return of Public Social Services (Command Paper 4749 of 1934) which, in columns 19 and 27 on pages 8 and 9, gives the figures of receipts from contributions, fees, interest, rents, etc., for 1932 or the latest available year. As regards the first three items in these columns (Unemployment Insurance, Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions) approximately 50 per cent., or £46,000,000, is derived from employés' contributions. As regards the remaining items, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2 of the Prefatory Note to the Return.

In view of those figures, does not the hon. Gentleman think that to quote £500,000,000 as the cost of the social services is very misleading when the actual cost is less than £400,000,000?

I do not consider it misleading.