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]
Extent Information
E1This act shall extend to Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, but not to Northern Ireland see s. 11(4).
Commencement Information
I1Act wholly in force at Royal Assent.
Textual Amendments
3(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
(2)For the purpose of calculating the maximum sum which may be insured or paid under section sixty-two of the principal Act or under section one of the M1Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1929 (which, like the sections referred to below, relate to payments on death under insurances in respect of young children or of relatives of the person taking out the policy), no account shall be taken of any repayment of premiums in respect of a policy or other contract insuring money to be paid on marriage, and sections sixty-three to sixty-six of the principal Act and subsection (2) of section four of the M2Industrial Assurance Act 1923 shall not apply as respects any such repayment.
(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). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
Textual Amendments
F2Ss. 1, 2, 3(1)(4)(5), 4, 8, 9(3), 10, 11(2) repealed by Friendly Societies Act 1974 (c. 46), Sch. 11
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1The “principal Act” means Friendly Societies Act 1896 (c. 25)
C2The text of S. 3(3) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991
Marginal Citations
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
F4S. 5 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1978 (c. 45), Sch. 1 Pt. XVII
(1)In subsection (1) of section ten of the M3Industrial 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.
Textual Amendments
F5S. 7 repealed by Adoption Act 1958 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2 c. 5), Sch. 6
Textual Amendments
(1)Subject to any exceptions or conditions prescribed by regulations of [F7the Secretary of State], [F7the Secretary of State] shall at the request of any person claiming benefit from a registered [F8trade union] or branch provide the [F8trade 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 [F7the Secretary of State] for purposes of the [F9enactments relating to . . . F10 social security.]
[F11(2)Where the Secretary of State furnishes a registered [F8trade union] or branch, in connection with a claim for benefit from the [F8trade 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). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12
(4)The power of [F7the 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). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13
Textual Amendments
F7Words substituted by virtue of Supplementary Benefit Act 1966 (c. 20), s. 2(3) and S.I. 1968/1699, art. 5(4)
F8Words substituted by Friendly Societies Act 1974 (c. 46), Sch. 9 para. 16
F9Words substituted by Social Security Act 1973 (c. 38), Sch. 27 para. 17(a)
F10Words repealed by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. I
F11S. 9(2) substituted by Social Security Act 1973 (c. 38), Sch. 27 para. 17(b)
F12Ss. 1, 2, 3(1)(4)(5), 4, 8, 9(3), 10, 11(2) repealed by Friendly Societies Act 1974 (c. 46), Sch. 11
F13S. 9(5) repealed by Social Security Act 1973 (c. 38), Sch. 28 Pt. I
Power to continue s. 9(5) expressed to be conferred (1.7.1992) by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act (c. 6), ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 3 Pt. II para.15.
Textual Amendments
(1)This Act may be cited as the Friendly Societies Act 1955.
(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15
(3)In this Act—
(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16
(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.
Textual Amendments
F15Ss. 1, 2, 3(1)(4)(5), 4, 8, 9(3), 10, 11(2) repealed by Friendly Societies Act 1974 (c. 46), Sch. 11
F16Words repealed by Friendly Societies Act 1974 (c. 46), Sch. 11