§ 40. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Hotel and Restaurant Employés' Union Ganymede Friendly Society is an approved society under the National Insurance Act; whether this society consists of about 4,000 foreign waiters; whether it is worked as a branch of an institution at Leipsig; and what steps he has taken or proposes to take in connection with the matter?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe society in question was approved under the National Insurance Act in 1912, and is still an approved society. Waiters of any nationality who are resident in the United Kingdom are eligible for membership. The membership, according to the latest return, was 1810, of whom 374 were British subjects or were entitled to be treated as British subjects for the purposes of the National Insurance Acts. I am informed that the institution in Leipzig referred to by the hon. Member has no control over the society, which is under the complete control of its members in the United Kingdom. The hon. Member will be aware that under the Insurance Acts no Exchequer contributions are payable in respect of members of approved societies who are not entitled to be treated as British subjects.