57. Major HOPEasked how many approved societies in Scotland have submitted schemes under Clause 13 of the National Insurance Act for giving option to members of substituting the additional benefit under Schedule 4 of pension or superannuation allowance in place of sickness and disablement benefit; how many of these schemes have been approved by the Scottish Insurance Commissioners; if the failure of an approved society to have such a scheme sanctioned by a certain date would be considered sufficient reason for a member of that approved society to be entitled to transfer, without the consent of his society, to another approved society where such a scheme had been sanctioned; and if the Insurance Commissioners propose to take any other steps in order to give every employed contributor the option of receiving pension or superannuation allowance in place of sickness and disablement benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo schemes under Section 13 of the Act have been submitted to the Scottish Insurance Commissioners; 1233 a number of international societies operating in Scotland are known to be considering schemes, but none have yet been approved. If a member of a society eligible for such a scheme wished to transfer from a society which had no scheme to one which had, the Commissioners would consider refusal of consent by the society to be unreasonable. The adoption of schemes under Section 13 is left by the Act at the discretion of approved societies. Insured persons who desire to come under them should therefore join, or transfer to, societies which have adopted or propose to adopt such schemes.