HC Deb 28 July 1955 vol 544 cc1343-4
44. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by the Registrar of Friendly Societies in relation to the breach of its own rules by the Northern Housing Association in raising the rents of its properties without having first obtained the approval of the Department of Health for Scotland.

Mr. H. Brooke

None, Sir. The Registrar has no power to take action unless a breach by a society of its rules involves the commission of an offence under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts or creates a situation whereby the conditions of registration are no longer fulfilled.

Mr. Thomson

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this society has quite flagrantly broken its own rules by flouting the Secretary of State's powers in relation to it; and will he not at least draw the attention of the Registrar of Friendly Societies to the debate on the matter in the House the other night, and to the very full answer then given by the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland?

Mr. Brooke

I can assure the hon. Member that I need not draw the Registrar's attention to that debate because he and I have read the report of it together. The facts are exactly as stated in the answer to the hon. Member's Question.