37. Mr. PALMERasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the revelations made by the departmental committee on the business of industrial assurance companies and collecting societies, and the failure of the law as it at present stands to protect the thrifty poor from exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous agencies, the Government propose to introduce legislation at the earliest possible moment to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 23rd March to the question of the hon. Member for Keighley.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman take action at an early date to prevent the poor of the country being exploited by these large assurance companies, as they have been for many years past?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot assume that that is the case.
§ Mr. BILLINGDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that insuring the lives, even of the poorest, is a matter 872 for the State and not of private gamblers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a very big proposition which I ventured to look into some time ago.
Mr. PALMERIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Report of the Committee itself actually accused these societies of exploiting the poor in their own interests?