HC Deb 23 June 1913 vol 54 cc778-9
23. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

asked (1) whether the statement in Circular A. S. 92 that if a member insists on terminating his membership of an approved society after consent to transfer has been refused that his transfer value will not be credited to any other society to which he may be admitted; if so, whether the old society may retain the transfer value or what becomes of it; and (2) whether, by Regulation 964 of 1912, a reserve value is to be credited to an approved society in respect of an insured person joining it if he joins within three months after resigning his original approved society; and, if so, whether this should be stated in Circular A. S. 92?

Mr. MASTER MAN

The proviso to Section 31 (1) of the National Insurance Act provides that a transfer value shall not be transferred if a society proves that an insured person has resigned voluntarily without the consent of his society, and that that consent was not unreasonably withheld; and a statement to this effect is properly included in Circular A. S. 92. If an insured person, who has resigned in these circumstances, fails in consequence to join a new society, his transfer value will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Section 43 of the Act. If he should join another society within the time prescribed by the regulations that society would, owing to Section 31 of the Act, have to take him without the reserves represented by the transfer value, and it is to be presumed, therefore, that it is most unlikely that he will gain admittance to another society.

Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

Would the right hon. Gentleman answer the question and say what happens to the transfer value in the first case. May the old society retain it?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I do not want to commit myself on these complicated matters. I should like notice of that question.

Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

Might I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that the question is on the Paper, and, as it is a matter of importance, would he give a further answer on another date?

Mr. MASTERMAN

If the hon. Gentleman will put down any further question he thinks I ought to answer, I will do what I can.