HC Deb 13 February 1934 vol 285 cc1809-10

5.48 p.m.

Mr. HICKS

I beg to move, in page 20, line 25, at the end, to add: (2) Any question arising under this Section shall be referred to and determined by an insurance officer, court of referees, or the Umpire as if it were a question arising under Section seventeen of the principal Act and the said Section seventeen shall have effect accordingly. I am very much encouraged by the attitude of the Minister on the last Amendment. As I see the name of the Minister associated with this Amendment, I do not think it is necessary to argue the case for it at any length, although substantial reasons for its inclusion could be put forward. As a matter of fact, on one occasion quite recently the Umpire said it was impossible not to feel sympathy for the association which paid the sums in question without having any reason to believe that the insured contributor was not entitled to receive them. All that is asked for under this Amendment is that, in the event of such a situation arising, either the insurance officer, the court of referees, or the Umpire can be appealed to, and the ease argued.

5.50 p.m.

Sir H. BETTERTON

I think that this Amendment, like the last one, strengthens the object of the Clause, and I am prepared to accept it.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 22 (Amendments as to schemes) ordered to stand part of the Bill.