§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the President of the Board of Trade, with regard to the Irish Provident Association and the Irish National Standard Assurance, both of which are now in liquidation, whether he can state the total number of policyholders in Ireland, the total amount subscribed by them as premiums, the date of liquidation in each case, the amount returned to policy-holders as a result of liquidation, the date on which such sums were refunded, when the balance will be paid, and what steps the Board of Trade is taking to prevent, such companies trading with insufficient capital?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe Irish Provident Assurance Company, Limited, is being wound up under an order made by the Irish Courts on the 24th April, 1911, and the liquidation is not under the control of the Board of Trade, who have no jurisdiction in the matter. There is no company called the Irish National Standard Assurance., but a company called the National Standard Life Assurance Corporation, Limited, was registered in England, and had an office in Ireland. On the 6th June, 1916, an order was made by the High Court in England for the winding up of that company, and Mr. James Fabian, chartered accountant, is the liquidator. I have communicated with the liquidator, who slates that about 4,000 proofs have been lodged, but that he is unable to give the number of policy-holders in Ireland or the amount subscribed by them as 1041W premiums. He has applied to the Court for directions as to which classes of creditors are entitled to rank against the life fund, and it is riot possible to distribute the assets until a decision of the Court has been obtained. The matter referred to in the concluding paragraph of the question is receiving the consideration of the Committee appointed to inquire into industrial life assurance.