HC Deb 14 August 1911 vol 29 cc1722-3W
Mr. MORRELL

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would furnish a list of all applications for grants for fisheries development made under the provisions of the Development Act, 1909, by local authorities or other local bodies in England and Wales, with the dates on which such applications were received by the Treasury, the dates on which they were forwarded to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the dates on which the Board reported to the Development Commissioners upon them?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The following statement gives the information asked for in the first three parts of the question. Perhaps the hon. Member will address the inquiry in the last part of the question to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

present friendly societies the administrative cost is about 4 per cent., whether he will explain the difference between the two figures?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I am unable to follow my hon. Friend's figures. The sum set apart for administration in the table on page 23 of the Actuaries' report represents for men 10.2 per cent., and for women 11.5 per cent. of the gross revenue, Including 2d. as the equivalent of the State grant towards benefits. If my hon. Friend will refer to page 79 of Section XI. of the Appendix of the report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for 1906 (H.C. 49 of 1907) he will find that the cost of administration for existing friendly societies is 11.9 per cent. of their gross revenue. Of course the total cost of administration will be increased by the expenses of the Insurance Commissioners and other Government Departments, but I may point out that if a society can carry on its administration at a less cost than that estimated by the actuaries the whole of the savings will be available for additional benefits.