Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether the Insurance Commissioners will prescribe a longer period than six months to enable sailors and soldiers to join approved societies, or will provide for the right to transfer of such soldiers and sailors as may become members of the Navy and Army Insurance fund to approved societies, in the same manner as transfers are permitted between different societies?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Insurance Commissioners are in communication with the Departments concerned (the Admiralty, War Office, and India Office), as regards 1279 the time to be prescribed under Section 46 (2) (b) of the National Insurance Act, for soldiers and sailors to join an approved society rather than the Navy and Army Fund. The time will be prescribed when the position of those on foreign stations has been considered. The Insurance Commissioners have no power under the Act to provide for the transfer of soldiers and sailors from the Navy and Army Fund to approved societies except upon their discharge.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to issue any circular to men now serving in the Navy calling their attention to their position under the National Insurance Act and specially recommending them to join approved societies?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAA pamphlet explaining the position of seamen and Marines under the Act is in course of preparation.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI would not like to say "within a week."
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this pamphlet has been in preparation for three months?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not know that. I do not think the hon. Member is fully informed about the matter. We are issuing a general statement to officers and particularly to paymasters so that the men may be informed by them generally, and now we are engaged upon a pamphlet to be put in the hands of every sailor and Marine.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the information I have was given me by himself?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe hon. Member is confusing this with what I said in my earlier statement. I am talking about the pamphlet to the officers, not the pamphlet to the men.
§ Mr. CASSELasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) how the contributions now paid to existing societies, trade unions, clubs, and other organisations not registered under the Friendly Societies Acts which become approved societies will be reduced; what provisions, if any, there 1280 are in the National Insurance Act, 1911, to ensure that such reductions shall be equitable and shall not prejudice the financial position of such organisations; and whether, until such reductions have been effected, the existing members will have to pay 4d. a week under the Act in addition to their existing contributions; and (2) whether in the event of any friendly society finding it impossible to formulate and procure confirmation by the Registrar of Friendly Societies of any provisional or final scheme by 15th July, 1912, the members of such society will be bound to pay 4d. a week under the State scheme in addition to the payment they now have to make to their society?
§ Mr. MASTERMANSection 72 of the National Insurance Act, which requires schemes as to continuing or altering contributions to be submitted to the Chief Registrar, applies only to registered friendly societies. Trade unions and societies not registered under the Friendly Societies Act, can at once take steps to alter the contributions of their members by an amendment of their rules. Registered friendly societies have received from the Chief Registrar a table which will enable them, easily and quickly, to prepare provisional schemes for reducing contributions. I am sending a copy of this table, and of the instructions issued with it, to the hon. Member, and he will, I think, see that with their aid societies will have no reason to inflict on their members the hardship of continuing their present contributions, in addition to their contributions under the Act, through failure to submit provisional schemes.
§ Mr. CASSELIs it correct that, unless the societies get the scheme approved before 15th July and alter their rules, the Members will have to pay both the 4d., under the Act, and the existing contribution? Does he not think it desirable to inform the societies of this so that they may take the earliest opportunity of preventing it?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe provisional scheme is a purely automatic one, and depends on the amount of solvency which the society possesses. That point can be settled in less than five minutes. I have no doubt every society will so settle it.
§ Mr. BARNESAre not the societies taking the necessary steps to alter their rules. Does he not think the trade-union members can very well look after themselves?
§ Mr. MASTERMANJudging by past experience, I should think they could.
§ Mr. CASSELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this question applies not only to trade unions, but also to small societies and small clubs, who are, perhaps, not very familiar with the provisions of the Act, or the necessity for altering their rules?
§ Mr. MASTERMANCertainly. Several registered small societies, which are the only ones we are concerned with under Section 72, are in communication with the Registrar of Friendly Societies on the matter.
§ Mr. ROWNTREEasked whether the Insurance Commissioners intend to take any further step besides the issue of the special leaflet on the subject, to make clear to those who are to be insured under the Act the advisability of joining an approved society rather than becoming a Post Office contributor?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIn addition to the leaflets already issued, the Commissioners are preparing a special leaflet for door to door circulation which will give special emphasis to the advantages of joining approved societies, rattier than becoming deposit contributors; and they are issuing official posters for the same purpose. They have also reason to believe that the approved societies will be taking active steps to inform insured persons of the advantages of members of approved societies over deposit contributors. In addition, the official lecturers have definite instructions to lay special emphasis on the same point. The Commissioners are anxious to take every possible step to make insured persons realise the importance of joining societies, and I shall be glad to receive suggestions of any action which will assist them in doing this more effectively.