MR. J. MACVEAUH (Down, S.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a Select Committee in 1889 reported that the Friendly Societies Act requires amendment, extension, and strengthening; whether he can state what legislation has since been passed in that direction; and whether he 1399 can say to how many of the thirty-three recommendations of that Select Committee effect has meanwhile been given.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The following are the Acts passed since 1889 dealing with friendly societies:—
In 1891 a Bill was introduced to amend the Law relating to Industrial Assurance; it was ordered to be referred to the Standing Committee on Trade, before which it was in part discussed. It was finally withdrawn in June of that year, being of a controversial nature the state of public business did not allow its being proceeded with. In pursuance of the recommendations of the Select Committee a Bill was brought in and passed in 1896 incorporating all such provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, 1875, as were exclusively applicable to collecting societies and industrial assurance companies. Other of the recommendations being of a codifying nature were already contained in the existing Acts, and the remainder have not been given effect to. The hon. Member will find the recommendations of the Select Committee very fully dealt with in the Annual Report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for 1890.
- 52 and 53 Vie., c. 22.
- 56 and 57 Vic, c. 30.
- 58 and 59 Vic, c. 26.
- 59 and 60 Vic, c. 25.
- 59 and 60 Vic, c. 26.