EARL of KERRYasked whether under the National Insurance Bill the existing funds of approved societies or their branches will be liable to be drawn upon for general management expenses, for security under Clause 20, should a cash payment under this Clause become due to the Insurance Commissioners, or for making good deficits in another branch of the same society under Clause 31, or will these funds be solely applicable to the objects enumerated in Clause 55?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEProvision for management expenses is included in the contributions under the Bill. The funds of a society raised otherwise than under the National Health Insurance cannot be drawn upon to meet a deficiency under Clause 31. With regard to the deposit of security under Clause 20, I have already stated that security will only be required where money is advanced for the payment of benefits, and that even in that case it is intended to give considerable latitude as to the form of the security. The existing funds of societies will be available in their entirety to be dealt with under Clause 55, and even if security were given in the form of a deposit of funds in preference to a bond or any other method, the amount available for the scheme under Clause 55 would not be affected except in the con- 701W tingency of the security being drawn upon to meet losses.