Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a circular issued by a certain society offering large employers of labour to stamp the health insurance cards of their employés if they join the approved society formed by the society issuing the circular; and whether the Commissioners propose to take any action to prevent pressure being put upon insured persons with regard to their choice of an approved society?
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that several of the large industrial life assurance societies have sent to employers circulars to the effect that, if they will get the whole of their employés to join the society for National Insurance Act purposes, the society will relieve the employer of stamping cards, etc., and that in consequence the free choice by employés of what society they will join is likely to be compromised; and what steps he proposes to take to check such practice?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAny such circular would seem to have been issued under a1444W misapprehension as to the methods of collection of contributions contemplated by the Act. Stamping of cards, whether quarterly, under the special arrangements for bulk stamping, or weekly, must not be done by any approved society or by any body forming a separate section approved under the Act, and a notice to this effect has already appeared in the Press.