§ 81. Mr. W. GRAHAMasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, in connection with the Federated Universities Superannuation Scheme, the provisions apply not only to Universities but to many educational institutions and public departments, and that there are grants of public money; that a comparatively small number of life assurance offices are on the panel, to the exclusion of a large number of offices of equally high standing; and seeing that this involves considerable hardship for policy-holders in non-panel offices and that the Committee in charge of the scheme has so far failed to meet this criticism, he will take steps to ensure that a free choice of all first-class offices is afforded to all entitled to benefit under the scheme?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe management of the Federated Superannuation System for Universities is not in the hands of the Government but of an independent central council consisting of representatives of the bodies participating in the system, including one Government representative. The system applies to various University institutions, to other educational and research institutions not under Government control and to certain members of the scientific and research staffs attached to a few Government Departments. The life assurance offices, forming the panel approved for the purpose of the scheme, have been nominated by the central council; and I do not think it is desirable that the 1277 Government should attempt to interfere with the council's discretion and to take the responsibility of selecting a panel of insurance companies for a scheme which applies mainly to the employés of outside institutions. If the existing arrangements involve hardship to individual policy-holders, the individuals affected can, of course, make representations to the council through the institution or Department which employs them.