§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under his scheme of National Insurance, exemption will be allowed in cases where employés are already contributing to funds or schemes organised by the companies or private firms in whose employment they are, provided such funds comply with a standard 1609W of benefit equal to that under the Government proposals; and whether he will consider giving such funds the benefit of the State contribution, although not in the category of what are to be called approved societies?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf the hon. Member will read Clause 19 of the National Insurance Bill, he will see that a fund of the character described can be brought into the scheme on certain conditions, and in that event the persons participating in the fund would obtain the benefit of the State contribution.
§ Mr. TOUCHEalso asked the Chancellor what, under the National Insurance system, is the position of a workman who joins a society which becomes insolvent or unable to pay the minimum benefits; must he remain a member of it, with the prospect of additional levies, and perhaps uncertainty of receiving his allowance when he is sick or unemployed, and trusting to his own endeavours and those of his colleagues to improve the management; or are the alternatives to join another society at an increased rate appropriate to his age or a reduced benefit, or to join the Post Office contributors and rank for the reduced benefits of the uninsurable lives?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will refer the hon. Member to Clauses 25 and 31 of the National Insurance Bill, which show that a person who is transferred from one society that another carries with him a sum representing his age reserve, but remains subject to any levy or reduction of benefits arising from a deficiency in the former society. I hope that the machinery of Clauses 29 and 31 which provide for frequent valuations and for prompt dealing with any deficiency in its early stages, will prevent a deficiency from ever attaining formidable dimensions.