HC Deb 11 May 1990 vol 172 cc247-8W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many friendly societies are currently registered as having their headquarters in Wales.

Mr. Ryder

There are six friendly societies registered as having their registered office in Wales.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many friendly societies there are currently registered with the registrar of friendly societies; and what is the corresponding figure 10 years previously.

Mr. Ryder

There are 474 friendly societies currently registered. The corresponding figure on 31 December 1979 was 519 societies.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the asset value of those friendly societies which became defunct during the past 10 years; and in what ways those assets were dissipated.

Mr. Ryder

In the 10 years 1980 to 1989 the number of friendly societies (excluding branches of orders) removed from the register following dissolution, cancellation or winding up, totalled 182. The aggregate assets of those societies and method of dissipation are not readily available. In general the assets after meeting all liabilities would have been distributed to the members on an equitable basis determined by an actuary.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost of running the department of the registrar of friendly societies; and how many employees there are in this department.

Mr. Ryder

Details of the cost of running the department of the registrar of friendly societies are given on pages 52–54 of Supply Estimates 1990–91, class XVIII, a copy of which is available in the Library.

One hundred and forty staff are employed in the department, half of whom are engaged on Building Society Commission work. The remaining 70 employees are engaged in work connected with the 16,500 mutual organisations, 468 of which are friendly societies.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are employed in the office of the registrar for friendly societies for Scotland; and what is the annual cost of running this office.

Mr. Ryder

Three and a half persons are employed in the registry of friendly societies (Scotland). The cost of running this office in 1990–91 is expected to be about £55,000.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many friendly societies are registered with their headquarters in Scotland.

Mr. Ryder

There are currently 85 friendly societies on the register in Scotland.