§ Mr. Parkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Registrar of Friendly Societies will cause inquiry to be made to ascertain from companies specialising in selling industrial insurance, and from sick benefit and friendly societies and from other bodies and associations having as their object or business the collection and distribution of funds on behalf of the working classes, how many policies have lapsed or membership discontinued since 3rd September, 1939; the cause of such lapse or discontinuation of membership; what steps have been taken to ascertain cause of lapse or discontinuation of membership where not known; whether the Registrar of Friendly Societies will make known the findings by publication.
§ Sir J. AndersonAn inquiry such as the hon. Member proposes would be a formidable undertaking, and, having regard to the continued stringency of the man-power position, I should not feel justified in initiating it. There is reason to suppose that during the war years the amount of lapsing has been less than during the period immediately before the war.