§ 17. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed at the Labour Conference at Glasgow on 30th January last expressing the opinion that the actuarial basis of the National Insurance Act is unsound so far as women are concerned; whether his attention has also been drawn to the statement of Mr. Cross, the secretary of the Amalgamated Weavers' Association Approved Society, a society with over 65,000 women members, who, speaking in support of that resolution, said that his society had over-spent the allowance per the actuaries' estimate of 2s. 2d. per female per quarter by £10,500 for the half-year ending 13th July, 1913, and had not found themselves in a much better position for the half-year ending 13th January, 1913; whether these facts are admitted by the Government; and, if so, what they propose to do in this state of affairs which adversely affects many thousands of compulsorily insured persons?
Mr. BENNMy right hon. Friend's attention has not been called to the statements mentioned by the hon. Member. I may observe generally that it is impossible to say, in the case of women members of approved societies, whether the actuarial expectation has been exceeded, until the age distribution and the condition of the members as to marriage has been ascertained, and also until the accounts of the societies have been made 1386 up so as to show their actual experience for at least the first year of benefits.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWould the hon. Member say whether the Government will pay a Grant to those members whose benefits were reduced owing to no fault of their own, but on account of deficiencies in their societies?
Mr. BENNI think that no statement on that subject can be made until we have ascertained whether the facts as stated by the hon. Member or any such statements are correct.