HC Deb 18 March 1958 vol 584 cc1107-8

3.48 p.m.

Mr. Frederick Mulley (Sheffield, Park)

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act, 1948, by increasing the limit on the amount of insurances on the life of a parent or grandparent. The Housed will know that, unfortunately, many people die without being able to make provision for a funeral and other incidental expenses, and it is usual for their children or grandchildren to undertake this responsibility. Since the death grant of £25 is insufficient to cover all these expenses, it is common for an insurance policy on the life of the parent or grandparent to be effected with a friendly society or industrial assurance company. The Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act, 1948, limits the amount to a total of £20 whether one or more policies are involved. In 1948, this sum of £20, together with the death grant, which was then £20, made £40 available. Today, this amount is often insufficient, particularly when heavy travelling expenses are incurred and several days' wages are lost. I know of several cases where considerable hardship has been caused and debt incurred in this way.

The sole purpose of this Bill is to raise the limit of £20 laid down in 1948. There may be arguments about the right amount, but I submit that there can be no controversy about the need to revise the 1948 figure. If my proposed Bill gets as far as the Committee stage, no doubt this aspect can be further considered. I propose a maximum limit of £35, which, together with the present £25 death grant, would make a maximum sum of £60 available as compared with the maximum of £40 in 1948. This increase of 50 per cent. approximates to the increase in the cost of living over the last ten years.

Despite its wide Short Title, the proposed Bill is a very modest and, I believe, useful Bill. It is supported by hon. Members on both sides, and I hope that the House will give me leave to introduce it.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Mulley, Mr. George Darling, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Prentice, Mr. Arthur Skeffington, Mr. Geoffrey Stevens, and Mr. Richard Winterbottom.