There are over 200 registered provident societies in the country.

Now these benefit clubs are also called provident societies, and a very good name for them.

Credit unions and industrial and provident societies in Northern Ireland are facing a major legislative review, it was revealed yesterday.

Legislation governing credit unions in Northern Ireland dates from 1985, while rules for industrial and provident societies go back to 1969.

But the accident of their legal origin still survives; for they are regulated to-day by the Industrial and Provident Societies Act of 1893.