HC Deb 14 September 1914 vol 66 cc772-3
Lord ROBERT CECIL

asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking with regard to life insurances on soldiers and sailors?

Mr. TENNANT

I have really nothing to add to what I stated on the 9th instant, except that a conference is being arranged between the Life Offices Association, the Treasury, Admiralty, and War Office to deal with the outstanding points.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

When will that conference be held?

Mr. TENNANT

I hope in the course of the next few days.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

May I have an answer about the sailors?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Yes. I received the following letter from the Chairman of the Life Offices Association on the 11th September:— Referring to your letter of the 4th instant, the questions raised therein have now received the attention of this Association, and I have the pleasure to inform you that it has been decided to recommend that the Royal Naval Reserve shall be placed upon the same footing as the Naval Volunteers, i.e., that no extra premium shall be required from persons in the Royal Naval Reserve who were insured prior to the declaration of war. The question of including the Royal Fleet Reserve in the same category has been carefully considered, but the Association does not see its way to recommend any departure from the original decision in regard to this Force. The Association is of opinion that the concessions made by the offices are all that can possibly be expected of them in justice to the main body of their policy holders. P.S.—I must point out that the decision embodied in his letter applies only to the English offices belonging to this Association. The point is still under the consideration of the Associated Scottish Offices. To this I replied on the same date:— I have to thank you for your letter of to-day. While regretting that you have not found it possible to include the Royal Fleet Reserve, I am very pleased to learn that you have extended the decision to require no extra premium from persons insured prior to the declaration of war to men of the Royal Naval Reserve. I trust that the Associated Scottish Offices will see their way to follow the example of the English offices.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

I should like to ask, in reference to the two answers given by the right hon. Gentlemen, whether they will now reply to the question I asked—namely, what course the Government propose to take, not what course the life assurance companies propose to take?

As no answer is forthcoming, I will repeat the question to-morrow.