HC Deb 15 November 1933 vol 281 cc930-1
77. Sir BASIL PETO

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government intend to introduce legislation enacting the 14 recommendations of the Report of the Committee on Industrial Insurance, Command Paper 4376; and whether they propose to take any action based on the recommendation in paragraph 5 that more substantial remedial measures are called for in order to secure to the assuring public an adequate return for the premium income contributed by the industrial classes, which rose between 1920 and 1930 from £.36,000.000 to £54,000,000 per annum?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hore-Belisha)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 9th November to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald).

Sir B. PETO

May I call the hon. Gentleman's attention to the latter part of my question and ask him is he aware that more than half of the premium income accrues to these insurance companies every year and that the more depressed the working classes are by unemployment the larger the revenue of the companies?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I must thank my hon. Friend for calling my attention to the latter part of the question. The answer to it is the answer to which I have referred.

Determinations by the Birmingham Public Assistance Authority on applications for Transitional Payments.
Period. —— Total number of applications. Allowed at maximum benefit rates. Allowed at lower rates. Needs of applicants held not to justify payment.
4th July, 1932— Initial applications 7,545 1,950 2,884 2711
1st Oct., 1932. Renewals and Revisions. 34,687 13,102 19,695 1,890
3rd July, 1933— Initial applications 3,940 1,159 1,560 1,221
7th Oct., 1933,* Renewals and Revisions. 30,612 13,196 16,021 1,395
Figures are not yet available for any later period.