§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether persons on National Assistance are under any obligation to accept suitable employment in their area, if offered, at standard rates of pay.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD DRUMALBYN)My Lords, a man under the age of 65, who is physically and mentally fit for work, is required to register for employment at his local employment exchange, as a condition of the grant of National Assistance, and is expected to accept any suitable offer of employment at the appropriate rate of pay. The same condition is applied in the case of a woman under the age of 60, unless she has the care of children or other domestic responsibilities. Refusal to accept suitable employment without good cause may lead to the withdrawal of the assistance allowance or, in a persistent case, to prosecution under Section 51 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer, but is he aware that it has been my personal experience that there are quite a few occasions when men drawing National Assistance and in receipt of several family allowances decline to accept employment at basic rates of pay? Will Her Majesty's Government instruct the labour exchanges, in the interests of the nation generally, to take a stronger line with these individuals?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, the complete withdrawal of assistance because of refusal to accept suitable employment must necessarily be restricted to persons without dependants. Where a man is suspected of being "workshy" and has dependants, the position is more difficult. There are, however, still two courses open to the Board. They can seek a "direction" from the Appeal Tribunal under Section 10 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and if a "direction" is given the Board's officer is then able to require the recipient himself to go to a re-establishment centre as a condition of the continuation of assistance to his family. Alternatively, where offers of work are repeatedly refused or work is repeatedly relinquished very soon after it is taken up, the person concerned may be prosecuted under Section 51 of the National Assistance Act. There were 134 prosecutions of men under this section in 1962.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his very full Answer.