Friendly Societies Act 1955
1955 c. 19 4_and_5_Eliz_2
An Act to extend the powers of friendly societies, and amend the Friendly Societies Acts 1896 to 1948; to make corresponding amendments for trade unions in relation to sums payable on the death of a member; to make provision with respect to the furnishing of information by the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in connection with claims for benefit from friendly societies and trade unions; and for purposes connected therewith.
[21st December 1955]
1, 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. — (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) At the end of the definitions of “ endowment policy ” in the subsection(2) of the section five of the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1929, and in subsection (6) of section fifty-six of the Reserve and Auxillary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act, 1951 there shall be the words “ and either with or without provision for the payment of money before the expiration of that period and during the life of that person in the event of marriage or otherwise ” .
(4) & (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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6. Extension of powers in connection with sickness benefits.
— (1) In subsection (1) of section ten of the
Industrial Assurance Act 1923 (which enables a friendly society to be wholly or partly exempted from that Act by certificate of the Industrial Assurance Commissioner, where the society does not carry on the business of effecting assurances on human life premiums in respect of which are received by means of collectors at a greater distance than ten miles from the registered office of the society), the expression
“ assurance upon human life ” shall not apply to any contract providing benefits in sickness or other infirmity if the terms of the contract are such that of the amounts paid by way of premiums thereunder not less than sixty per cent. will be paid for the purpose of providing those benefits.
(2) It is hereby declared that in subsection (2) of the said section ten (under which a certificate of exemption under that section must impose a condition that the society will not employ collectors to receive premiums on policies issued by the society at a greater distance than ten miles from the registered office of the society) the word “ policies ” refers only to policies of assurance on human life within the meaning of subsection (1) of that section, and any certificate of exemption issued before the coming into force of this section and having effect under the said section ten shall be construed accordingly. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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9. Provision as to information supplied for national insurance purposes.
— (1) Subject to any exceptions or conditions prescribed by regulations of
[ the Secretary of State ] ,
[ the Secretary of State ] shall at the request of any person claiming benefit from a registered
[ trade union ] or branch provide the
[ trade union ] or branch for the purposes of the claim with a copy or abstract of any medical certificate relating to that person and supplied by him to
[ the Secretary of State ] for purposes of the
[ enactments relating to . . . social security. ]
[ ( 2 ) Where the Secretary of State furnishes a registered [ trade union ] or branch, in connection with a claim for benefit from the [ trade union ] or branch, with information relating to a claim or award under those enactments, the expenses incurred in connection therewith by the Secretary of State or any other government department shall be treated as expenses in carrying those enactments into effect. ]
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) The power of [ the Secretary of State ] to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. Short title, citation, construction and extent.
— (1) This Act may be cited as the Friendly Societies Act 1955.
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) In this Act — (a)
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(b)
references to any enactment, except in so far as the context otherwise requires shall be taken as referring to that enactment as amended, extended or applied by or under any other enactment, including this Act.
(4) This Act shall extend to Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, but not to Northern Ireland. 
