§ Viscount HELMSLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his proposed Amendment to Clause 25 of the Finance Bill, page 17, line 13, at end, differentiates between different types of friendly societies engaged in similar work; and on what grounds it is proposed to define a registered society in different terms to those previously employed in the Friendly Societies Acts?
Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in amending the postponed Clause 25 of the Finance Bill as regards registered societies, he will consider the advisability of treating as registered societies all societies which have been registered as friendly societies under 1717W the Friendly Societies Acts, independently of whether they are or are not restricted by their rules from dividing any part of their funds amongst their members?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe proposed Amendment differentiates between societies which are and those which are not restricted by their rules from dividing any part of their funds among their members. This difference between dividing and non-dividing societies is recognised in the Friendly Societies Acts. The purpose of the Finance Bill, of course, differs from that of the Friendly Societies Acts, and the question whether dividing societies can properly be given the same favourable treatment as non-dividing societies is receiving consideration.