§ MR. D. H. COGHILL (Stoke-upon-Trent)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will include on any Commission or Committee appointed to consider old age pensions a representative from each of the great Friendly Societies of the country, such as the Ancient Shepherds, Foresters, Oddfellows, Buffaloes, etc., etc.?
§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, seeing that the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, and several other important Friendly Societies, have declared themselves, by resolutions carried at their annual meetings, to be in favour of State-aided old age pensions, will the Government recognise such an important expression of opinion by including a representative leader in favour of such State-aid upon the Commission or Committee now being appointed?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYsaid the reference to this Commission was as follows:—
To consider any scheme that might be submitted to them for encouraging the industrial population, by State-aid or otherwise, to make provision for old age; to report whether they could recommend any proposals of the kind, either based upon or independent of such schemes, and, with special regard to any proposals of which they might approve, the cost and probable financial results to the Exchequer and to the local rates; their effects in promoting habits of thrift and self-reliance; their influence on the prosperity of friendly societies, and the possibility of securing the co-operation of these institutions in their practical working.He could not at present give the names of the small Commission of experts who would have to deal with this reference, but care would be taken that some members of it were thoroughly cognisant of the views and wishes of the Friendly Societies. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. L. R. HOLLAND (Tower Hamlets, Bow and Bromley)asked whether the evidence taken by this Commission would be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYreplied that it was not usual to make a promise with regard to the proceedings of a Committee or Commission before the appointment of such a body.