HC Deb 13 May 1914 vol 62 cc1102-3
35. Mr. MACKINDER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the allowance for administrative expenses of the insurance committees of the smaller burghs and less populous counties in Scotland; and whether any part of the additional money proposed to be found by the Treasury will be devoted to these necessitous committees?

59. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the funds available for administrative expenses to meet the reasonable expenditure of certain insurance committees in Scotland, especially in the smaller burghs and scattered county areas; whether it is proposed that any of the funds provided in the Budget for insurance purposes should be devoted to improving the financial position of such committees; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to secure that all committees shall have adequate means for fulfilling the duties imposed upon them?

Mr. W. BENN

I would refer to my reply to similar questions on the 4th May, to which I have at present nothing to add.

Mr. MACKINDER

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Association of Insurance Committees of Scotland, including the committees of the larger and smaller areas, have passed a resolution asking for this?

Mr. W. BENN

Representations have been received from various quarters.

Mr. F. WHYTE

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication that these committees will be relieved of this burden?

Mr. W. BENN

The matter is being considered by the Commissioners, and it is being decided with all possible expedition.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Does the Government accept responsibility for seeing that all the insurance committees have at their disposal adequate funds?

Mr. W. BENN

The funds provided by the Act will be adequate for the purpose of the committees.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

The committees?

Mr. W. BENN

Yes, the committees.