§ 50. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Ham Board of Guardians a few weeks ago applied for a further grant of £434,000 and that, before his Department was willing to grant that amount, the Department insisted upon the board cutting down the relief and adopting the scale in operation by the Greenwich Board of Guardians; that that scale allows 24s. for man and wife, 4s. each child up to the age of six years, with a maximum of 49s. for a family of seven, plus an allowance of ls. 6d. for coal; that the West Ham Board of Guardians on Thursday rejected the proposals; if he can state whether he has received any communication from the West Ham Board of Guardians since their decision on Thursday, 17th June; and if he can now state what he intends doing about the matter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)My right hon. Friend is aware of the application for a loan mentioned in the first part of the question, and it is the fact that he has thought it necessary to require a substantial reduction in the rate of the guardians' expenditure. He understands that the scale adopted by the Greenwich Board of Guardians was suggested by a West Ham guardian in substitution for their present scale and is informed that that scale is correctly described in the question. The West Ham Guardians have written to my right hon. Friend again declining to make any substantial reduction in their expenditure, and he has informed them that unless this decision is reconsidered in the course of the present week he will have to apply to Parliament for further powers to deal with the situation which will arise.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Greenwich Board of Guardians have rescinded their previous decision and have refused to operate such a scale, which they regard as inhuman?
§ Sir K. WOODI have seen some such decision mentioned in the papers if it lie so, the Greenwich Board of Guardians have broken their undertaking and word to the Minister.
Commander WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the rates in this district, owing to bad and unfair administration, are very inhuman indeed on the ratepayers?