§ 25. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health the salary paid to Mr. Alan Beal and Mr. John James Scott, and the amount of superannuation Sir Alfred Woodgate is receiving, the three special commissioners who have been appointed to take charge of the West Ham Poor Law Union; and what expenses are being allowed to each of the three commissioners?
§ Sir K. WOODThe salaries, including the cost of living bonus, of Mr. Beal and Mr. Scott are £764 and £864 a year, respectively. Sir Alfred Woodgate is in receipt of a superannuation allowance of £843 a year; the question of the remuneration which may be approved to be paid to them as appointed guardians under the Board of Guardians (Default) Act is under consideration.
§ Mr. STEPHENCan the Minister tell us the figures that are to be paid before the House rises for the Adjournment, or are we simply to go on as at present?
§ 26. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health the scale of relief paid out for the week ending Saturday, 24th July, in the West Ham Poor Law Union to single persons who are not living with their parents; single persons who are living away from home; for man and wife; man and wife with one child; man and wife with two children; man and wife with three children: man and wife with four children; man and wife with five children; man and wife with six children; the value of relief in kind and the value of relief in money; and if he can now state what is the maximum scale to be paid out where there is no family income?
§ Sir K. WOODI understand that the scale on which relief has been paid during the week in question is the scale followed by the late guardians during the last fortnight of their administration.
§ The scale was as follows:
| s. | d. | |
| Single persons living with their parents | 7 | 0 |
| Single persons living away from home | 11 | 0 |
| Man and wife residing together | 14 | 6 |
| Man and wife, with one child | 18 | 0 |
| Man and wife, with two children | 22 | 0 |
| s. | d. | |
| Man and wife, with three children | 25 | 6 |
| Man and wife, with four children | 29 | 6 |
| Man and wife, with five children | 33 | 0 |
| Man and wife with six children | 37 | 0 |
§ In addition, an allowance for rent was made except to single persons. It will not be possible to state the value of relief in (a) kind; and (b) money granted during the week ended the 24th July, 1926, until Tuesday next, the 27th instant. The maximum of the scale of relief granted in any one case in which there was no family income was 41s. 6d.
§ Colonel DAYIs it contemplated to make any reductions in these scales?
§ Mr. STEPHENCannot we have an answer?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put the question on the Paper.
§ 27. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health the percentage of interest that will be charged for the last loan of £300,000 to the West Ham Poor Law Union; the amount of interest and principal that is to be repaid each year; the total amount now owing to the Government; what amount of interest and principal has been repaid since the first loan was granted in 1921; and what amount of principal and interest has to be repaid each year until the outstanding loans have been repaid?
§ Sir K. WOODAs the reply contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following the reply:
§ The rate of interest to be charged on the last loan of £300,000 issued to the West Ham Guardians is 5 per cent.; the amount of principal to be repaid and interest payable each year in respect of the above loan is as follows:
| Financial Year | Principal. | Interest. | Total. | |
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| 1926 | … | — | 10,397 | 10,397 |
| 1927 | … | — | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| 1928 | … | 30,000 | 15,000 | 45,000 |
| 1929 | … | 60,000 | 12,750 | 72,750 |
| 1930 | … | 60,000 | 9,750 | 69,750 |
| 1931 | … | 60,000 | 6,750 | 66,750 |
| 1932 | … | 60,000 | 3,750 | 63,750 |
| 1933 | … | 30,000 | 750 | 30,750 |
§ The total amount now owing to the Ministry in respect of all loans outstanding is £2,275,000; the amount of principal repaid since first loan was granted is £425,000, and the interest paid £195,482.
§ The amount of principal and interest to be paid each year until the outstanding loans have been repaid is as follows:
| Financial Year. | Amount. | |||
| £ | ||||
| 1926 | … | … | … | 370,736 |
| 1927 | … | … | … | 428,506 |
| 1928 | … | … | … | 466,513 |
| 1929 | … | … | … | 457,488 |
| 1930 | … | … | … | 438,188 |
| 1931 | … | … | … | 319,600 |
| 1932 | … | … | … | 161,831 |
| 1933 | … | … | … | 30,750 |