§ 48. Mr. Molsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no steps were taken to enforce in the years 1909 to 1923 the provisions of Section 36 of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909; and why the Industrial Assurance Commissioner has neglected from 1923 to 1944 to enforce the provisions of Section 3 of the Industrial Assurance Act of 1923.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Anderson)It is not possible at this date to say why no action was taken by the Board of Trade in regard to Section 36 of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909. When the office of Industrial Assurance Commissioner was set up under the Act of 1923, the number of policies which might have contravened Section 3 of that Act was found to be very large. In these circumstances it would have been inappropriate 534 to prosecute in a particular case, but the Commissioner brought the matter before a committee appointed in 1931 to inquire and report on the law and practice relating to industrial assurance. I cannot accept the suggestion that there has been any negligence on the part of the Commissioner.
§ Mr. MolsonIn view of the importance of this matter, and in order to enable the Chancellor of the Exchequer to explain more fully the attitude of the Government, and also in view of the fact that no action has been taken upon the report of the committee to which my right hon. Friend has referred, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.