§ MR. THOMSON HANKEYsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his proposed insurance of lives in connection with the 178 Savings Banks, To state what is the amount of a Single Premium proposed to be charged on the Insurance of £100 on lives of the following ages—namely, 20, 30, 40, 50; and also the Annual Premium to be charged for Insurance on lives of the same ages; and whether he will lay upon the table of the House a paper giving the above information? He would also beg to ask what is the smallest amount proposed to be insured?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, in reply, that in the statement he had made last week he had said it was probable that there would be felt much interest, and even jealousy, on the subject of the rules by which the Government proposed to give effect to the provisions of the Bill now before Parliament, in case of its being adopted; and he added that he had no objection to lay those provisions in detail on the table, and to make the operation of the Act contingent on their being; so laid. Of course, it was in the power of the House to interfere, and stop the action of them, if they should think fit. The question connected with supplying tables was one of considerable importance. He had not the least doubt that it was a matter entirely practicable, but at the same time it would be necessary to obtain the assistance of actuaries and professional gentlemen of the highest skill and experience, in addition to the Government Actuary; and he would not be justified in going to the expense of employing those gentlemen on the part of the public in framing tables before he knew whether it was the pleasure of the House to adopt the general principles of the Bill. At the same time, the House was entitled to know upon what rules the Government proposed to proceed. No decision had been arrived at with respect to the minimum amount proposed to be insured.