§ Mr. KELLYasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the number of policies lapsed by assurance companies through the poverty of the holders preventing continuance of the payment of the premium; and, if so, what steps have been taken to deal with the hardship this loss creates?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEUnder the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923, Section 24, free policies, or in some cases436W surrender values, can be obtained on forfeiture of policies on which premiums have been paid for the periods stated in the section, and under the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act, 1929, free policies or surrender values can be claimed on certain endowment policies, after one year's premiums have been paid. In accordance with the 1929 Act printed information as to the right" of policy-holders under that Act has been circulated. I am considering whether it is possible to take any further steps to direct attention of policy-holders to their rights in the matter.