§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that certain approved societies employ a rule to dismember an insured person on that person being convicted and punished for an offence; and what steps he intends to take to discourage the application of any such rule by which an approved society seeks to supplement the punishment of a bench of magistrates?
§ Sir K. WOODThe rules of most approved societies provide that the committee of management may expel a member who has been imprisoned for any crime. Before a member can be expelled under this rule, however, the642W committee is required to give him a full opportunity of submitting his defence, and if a decision to expel him is arrived at, he has a right of appeal, first, to an independent arbitration tribunal, and finally to the Minister. My right hon. Friend thinks, therefore, that insured persons are already sufficiently protected against a harsh or unreasonable application of the rule.