§ Mr, RHYS DAVIESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of serving naval ratings who are members of health insurance approved societies and the number who are not; what is the possible membership of the suggested naval approved society for serving and 259W ex-service ratings and marines; how many branch offices are proposed; whether the head office is to be in London; and whether he can state the proposed salaries of the various officials?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLOn 31st December, 1933, the latest date for which information is available, 36,000 out of a total of 82,500 serving ratings were not members of approved societies. I am not yet in a position to supply the rest of the information asked for by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. DAVIESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made with the proposal to form a national health insurance society within the trust of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust since the annual meeting of 1933; under what part of the charter this scheme would be framed; whether it will be necessary to take any Parliamentary action; whether the lower deck is to be consulted and when; what officials of the Admiralty were present at the discussions with representatives of the trust at the Admiralty on Monday, 12th November, 1934; and what transpired at that conference?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThis subject was discussed at the Admiralty with representatives of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust on 12th November. The proceedings were informal, but the main object of the meeting was to give in-260W formation to the proposers of the scheme as to some of the difficulties in its realisation. As these appear to be of a serious nature, the further matters of detail have not so far been considered. As a direct outcome of the meeting, it is hoped that steps can be taken with a view to reducing the number of serving men who are not members of approved societies.
§ Mr. DAVIESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the amount of capital in the possession of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust; the amount required to start the proposed health insurance approved society; the amount proposed to be borrowed from the trust for this purpose; whether the charter of the trust permits of part of its capital, which is earmarked for benevolent. purposes, being used for competitive health insurance purposes; and, in the event of failure, how it is proposed to safeguard the moneys of the trust and ensure the continuation of the benevolent work for which the trust was formed?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLAccording to their annual report for 1934, the amount of capital in possession of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (including minor trusts) was £450,000 approximately. As I told the hon. Member in my reply to his previous question, the further matters of detail have not yet been considered.