Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether one of the representatives of the Insurance Commissioners on the London Insurance Committee is a German, whose business has been subject to special investigation by the Government; 1072W if he has been unable to obtain a man of British nationality and descent to represent the employers of London on the insurance committee; and whether the aforesaid German attended and voted at a meeting of the committee on 23rd May, 1918?
§ Mr. PRATTI have been asked to reply to this question. No members of the London Insurance Committee are representatives of the Insurance Commission. The members of that committee are appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 59 of the Act of 1911, under which, in addition to the prescribed representation of insured persons and of local authorities, and to members elected by the medical profession, the Commission appointed a certain number of persons who would bring to the work of the committee various types of experience needed for that purpose, including employers' associations. The individual referred to in the question (who my hon. Friend understands, became a naturalised British subject in 1878) was placed on the insurance committee by the Commission in July, 1912, on his being nominated for that purpose by the Engineering Employers' Federation, who have made no suggestion to the Department for any change in that respect. My hon. Friend will, however, communicate with them on the subject.