§ 53 and 54. Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Health (1) what provision in the form of relief is given to the unmarried unemployed man who has exhausted his claim to unemployment benefit;
(2) whether he is aware that an unemployed married man with two children in the distressed areas who has exhausted his claim to unemployment benefit draws out-relief of 16s. a week, being 10s. a week for his wife and 3s. for each child and nothing for himself; and will he take steps to increase this scale?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe question of the form in which relief is to be given, or, where out-door relief is given, of the amount of relief, is one for decision by the board of guardians to whom the application is made.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a leading article in the "Times," the other day, it was stated that an able-bodied man does not get any relief at all in a distressed area?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the inspectors are instructing boards of guardians that they are not to give out-relief to able-bodied single men, and only to give it for short periods to able-bodied married men?
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman say how this can be at the discretion of boards of guardians, when the inspectors tell them it is illegal to do it?
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhy does not the right hon. Gentleman tell them that?