§ Colonel GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are between one-and-a-half and two million members of various dividing societies in the country; whether he is aware that, if these dividing societies are not recognised as approved societies under the National Insurance Bill many of them will cease to exist; whether he is aware that the sick benefits paid by these dividing societies are considerably greater than those given to Post Office contributors under the Bill, and that, therefore, the older and worse lives will be worse off under the Bill than they are now; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the possibility of amending the Bill so that the dividing societies may be recognised as approved societies, for a term of years in any case?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs I have stated more than once, it is intended that the dividing societies should be able to start subsidiary departments, so constituted as to be qualified to administer the Funds paid in respect of their members under the Insurance Bill, and that they should be free to carry on the remainder of their business on the same basis as hitherto.