HC Deb 15 July 1912 vol 41 c48W
Mr. FREDERICK WHYTE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can take steps to make it possible for working men who represent insured persons on insurance committees to attend the meetings of such committees without loss of time during working hours; and whether he is aware that in some cases meetings of these committees have been summoned at an hour during the morning at which working men are not free?

Mr. GEORGE ROBERTS

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the provisional insurance committee for Cambridge has decided to hold its meetings on Thursdays at 2.30 in the afternoon; and whether, in view of the fact that working-class members of these committees cannot attend meetings held in the day time, some recommendation can be made to the committees to hold their meetings at a time when all the members can be present?

Mr. MASTERMAN

The regulations made by the Commissioners as to the proceedings of insurance committees empower the committees to fix their own time of meeting, and I should assume that they would accordingly fix a time which would be most convenient to the majority of the members. The representatives of insured persons have three-fifths of the total membership of each committee, and accordingly have full power to arrange that the time chosen shall be a time convenient to members of the working classes.