§ MR. J. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade with reference to the Circulars which he recently issued to insurance companies and friendly societies on the subject of illegal policies, whether he has received any assurances from any of the companies or societies that the practices complained of have been definitely abandoned, or whether he has reason to believe that the warning has been absolutely ignored.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Circular issued by the Board of Trade to insurance companies did not ask for a reply, but replies have been received from a large number of companies. From the nature of these replies I may say that the companies either intimated that their practice was in accordance with the views expressed in the Circular, or that their agents would be instructed in the terms thereof, or that due con- 1674 sideration would be given thereto. As regards the Circular issued by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies to friendly collecting societies I am informed that the societies generally have warned their collectors not to issue policies which are not in accordance with law.
§ MR. J. MACVEAGHHas it not come to the knowledge of the Board of Trade officials that the companies chiefly complained of are to-day still carrying on the very practice of issuing policies on lives in which the person paying has no insurable interest?
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir.