§ Mr. WATTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the secretary to the Joint Committee, under the National Insurance Act, wrote on 31st May, 1912, to the Scottish Clerks' Association, stating that the association could make a non-State contribution to their special medical scheme a basis of their membership; and, if so, whether this assurance is now being departed from by the Commissioners after the association have incurred liabilities to many of their members?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe letter of 31st May, 1912, stated that it was open to the society to make contributions to the medical scheme a condition of membership of the society for State insurance purposes. This statement did not convey a decision of the Commissioners but follows directly from Section 30 (2) of the Act. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.