§ Mr. HAYES FISHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Assurance Companies Act, which came into force on 1st July, applies to unregistered slate clubs and dividing societies and sick and provident societies, and whether it is intended to interfere with small local societies whose rates of contribution appear to be fairly adequate to provide the benefits offered?
Mr. BUXTONThe Assurance Companies Act applies to all societies (with the exceptions named in the Act) which carry on assurance business as defined in the Act. Whether it applies to any particular society or not must depend on the rules of the society. If any of the slate clubs and dividing societies referred to in the question are in fact carrying on such business they can gain exemption from the provisions of the Act by registration with the Registrar of Friendly Societies, and if this remedy should be inapplicable the Board of Trade have power in certain cases to grant exemption.