§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many approved societies or branches, owing to claims for benefits in excess of the contributions received or for any other reason, have been called upon by the Commissioners to make provisional claims for reserve values or have been advised by the Commissioners to amalgamate with other societies, including the 109 societies already referred to?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThere are in all twenty-eight societies, in addition to those referred to in the latter part of the question, to which the Commissioners have suggested that a provisional claim should be made for reserve values or that the question of the desirability of amalgamation with other societies should be considered. No suggestion of either kind has in any case been made to a branch.
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many approved societies or branches of approved societies have ceased to carry on business under the National Insurance Acts since 1352W the 16th February last, in addition to the 986 which had so ceased up to that date?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThirty-one societies have ceased to administer the Act as separate units, and other societies have made changes in their organisation, resulting in a reduction of 112 in the number of their branches since the date referred to.
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the draft Regulations relating to reduction of benefits for compulsorily insured persons in arrear will be laid upon the Table of the House; and what is the cause of the delay?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNA number of drafting alterations have been necessary to adapt the Regulations to special classes of insured persons. I regret the delay, but I hope to lay the Regulations before the House this week.
§ Mr. BOOTHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is contemplated to set up a State approved society to deal with deposit contributors; and whether he is prepared to receive representations from the existing societies before subjecting-them to competition of this unexpected character?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Falmouth on the 9th March, to which I have nothing to add.
Mr. DENNISSasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of any cases in which collectors, agents, or other officers of approved societies in England, Wales, Ireland or Scotland have expressed dissatisfaction with the rate of remuneration they receive for the duties they are required to perform under the National Insurance Act; whether he is aware that, in consequence, insurance committees are experiencing difficulties in keeping their registers up to date; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNAs I have already stated, the Insurance Commissioners, though they have no power to interfere, have had certain representations as to the rate of remuneration of agents of approved societies. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; the third part does not therefore arise.