§ 34. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the National Union of General and Municipal Workers' Approved Society, No. 130, lost approximately 5,200 members, age 65 or over on 2nd January, 1928, in consequence of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act coming into force on that date, of whom 1,200 were on the funds; and if he can state whether it is possible to obtain similar information from other approved societies?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend has no information as to the number of members of individual approved societies who were of the age of 65 or over on 2nd January last, or of the number of such members who were in receipt of benefit on that date. It would only be possible to obtain such information by calling for a special return for each of the 7,000 societies and branches, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to put them to this trouble.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes it not follow that, if the other approved societies have the same membership pro rata that we have in our approved society, and the same number pro rata on the sick list at the time, some hundreds of thousands of people are being deprived of their sickness benefit of 15s. a week, and are only getting 10s. as pension?
§ Sir K. WOODNo, Sir; the hon. Gentleman is quite misinformed as to the effect of these provisions.
§ Mr. THORNEYou do not give the information; how do you know that I am wrong?