§ Viscount WOLMERasked how many friendly societies there are whose membership is less than 10,000, and what their total aggregate number of members is; and what is the estimated number of officials required to carry out the affiliation of such societies?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThere are approximately 6,300 societies with less than 10,000 members, and their aggregate membership is 1,240,000. With regard to the latter portion of the question, I fear it would be quite impossible to frame an estimate; but I may remind the Noble Lord that I have promised to consider Amendments with regard to the limit of numbers. I may add that the friendly societies agreed at their conference that the limit should be 5,000.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these 6,000 societies have fewer than 5,000 members?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEObviously that is a question of which I ought to get notice. It involves looking into the figures supplied by the Registrar of Friendly Societies.
§ Mr. LANE-FOXMay I ask whether, in calculating on the limitation of societies 959 with 5,000 members, the right hon. Gentleman did not consider what number of societies he would bring in?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI only attended a meeting, which was a very fully representative one of the friendly societies. I took no part in the discussion at all. All the other suggestions were defeated by considerable majorities, and the question of the 5,000 was carried by a considerable majority of those present. They felt it was desirable to have a limit involving a considerable number of members, otherwise it would be difficult to administer the whole scheme, and, not only that, but to distribute the benefits fairly.
§ Mr. LANE-FOXDid the right hon. Gentleman make a calculation on the basis of this 5,000 limit, or was it merely a rough shot?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIt was not my suggestion. The suggestion came from the friendly societies, and all these societies were represented at that conference.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI should not like to answer that without notice.
Sir GILBERT PARKERCan the right hon. Gentleman tabulate the societies, giving their proportion of members?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI think the hon. Member will find that there are returns of these societies, and it only involves an examination of these returns. I am not sure that I have any sources of information which are not open to the hon. Member in the Library of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. BOOTHDoes the number of 6,000 odd include accumulating societies and dividing friendly societies?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI think it would include dividing societies as well. If the hon. Member wants an accurate return on the subject, I will make inquiries and let him know the result.