HC Deb 13 May 1912 vol 38 c794
Mr. BRIDGEMAN

asked (1) what will be the position of a member of an approved society in England which has no branch in Wales on removing there from England and failing to gain admission to a Welsh approved society; if he can, under the circumstances continue to be a member of his English society or will he be obliged to become a deposit contributor; and if there is any similar restriction in the Act upon the movements of a deposit contributor from one part of the United Kingdom to another; and (2) if the effect of Sub-section (3) of Section 83 of the National Insurance Act will be that existing friendly societies' branches on the borders of England and Wales, whose members now reside some in England and some in Wales, will have to be divided into separate sections as regards their members resident in England and Wales, respectively, who become insured persons; if so, will every member who removes his residence across the border have to be transferred from the English section to the Welsh section, or vice versâ; and will not this lead to confusion and complication in the accounts of the approved societies on the border?

Mr. MASTERMAN

Separate accounts will require to be kept for members resident on the English and on the Welsh side of the border respectively. As I explained, however, in fuller detail in the answer I gave on 2nd May, where the society so desires the accounts can be kept, and the benefits administered, for all the members by the same office or offices. In the event of a society being unwilling to retain as members those who move their residence from England to Wales, or vice versâ, because it wishes to avoid keeping separate accounts for them, it could doubtless make arrangements for another society to accept them, and this would be facilitated by the members carrying their transfer values with them.

Mr. JOHN WARD

What would be the position of a man who works in one country and lives in the other? Which country does he belong to for insurance purposes

Mr. MASTERMAN

Under the Act it depends on where he is resident.