MAJORITY REPORT,

subject with which we were appointed to deal, expert actuarial
advice would be essential. We, therefore, approached the
Minister of Health, recommending that he should set up a
Departmental Actuarial Committee to assist us in dealing with
such actuarial questions as would necessarily arise in the course
of our investigation. This recommendation was accepted by the
Minister, who, on the 19th November, 1924, appointed a Committee
 under the chairmanship of Sir Alfred Watson, the
Government Actuary and a member of the Commission, with
the following terms of reference :—
“To advise the Royal Commission on National Health
Insurance actuarially as to whether the present basic. contribution
 under the National Health Insurance Acts is in
fact required for the existing benefits (including the cost of
Societies’ and Insurance Committees’ administration), or
whether such a rearrangement of the financial basis of the
Scheme would be justified as would reduce the amount allocated
 to the present benefits and leave a margin for other
purposes ; and thereafter to continue in being to furnish such
further actuarial advice as may be required by the Royal Commission
 on any matters arising in the course of their inquiry.”’
In addition to the Chairman the Committee was composed of
Mr. A. D. Besant, President of the Institute of Actuaries, who
is also a member of the Commission, Mr. A. Henry, the Deputy
Government Actuary, and Messrs. R. G. Maudling and Li. E.
Clinton, Fellows of the Institute of Actuaries. The Committee
presented to us three reports dated 13th October, 1925, Tth
December, 1925, and 18th December, 1925, and these appear as
Appendix A to our Report. We desire to acknowledge our
indebtedness to the Committee for the valuable assistance which
we have derived from their labours.