HC Deb 03 December 1931 vol 260 cc1254-6
65. Lord EUSTACE PERCY

asked the Minister of Health whether a public assistance authority in administering poor relief are bound to take into account a disability pension?

Sir H. YOUNG

The public assistance authority must not make it a rule to disregard disability pensions. But, in considering the needs of a pensioner, they must have regard to his disability, and it is entirely within their discretion to make an increase of award on the ground of that disability and the increase of need that results from it.

Captain FRASER

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether public assistance committees in assessing the means of an ex-service man applying for relief are entitled, after taking into account a disability pension, to increase the relief given in consideration of the greater need due to the disability?

Sir H. YOUNG

The answer is, Yes, Sir.

Captain FRASER

May I ask, then, whether the public assistance committee is not, in effect, entitled to disregard the pension, either a part of it or even altogether?

Sir H. YOUNG

The actual process could not be legally described as disregarding the pension, but the effect in these cases is practically much the same.

Captain FRASER

Will my right hon. Friend inform public assistance committees of this?

Mr. THORNE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he was in the House when the Minister of Labour gave his reply, and whether the same sympathetic consideration will be given to disabled workmen as far as workmen's compensation is concerned?

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer given by the Minister of Labour this afternoon and the answer given by himself will increase the confusion of the public assistance committees?

Sir H. YOUNG

If the hon. Gentleman will be so good as to give careful consideration to the two answers given today, I can assure him that he will discover that they have relieved a considerable part of the misapprehension.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Is it not the case that the effect of the reply originally given by the right hon. Gentleman merely means that while the public assistance committees are called upon to take into consideration the disability pension they may supplement any unemployment bene- fit granted by poor relief, and is not that, as my hon. Friend has suggested, creating more instead of less confusion?

Sir H. YOUNG

I do not think that implication is justified. The terms on the question and of the reply are precise. A public assistance committee is entitled after taking into account the disability pension to increase the relief given in consideration of the greater need due to the disability.

Mr. N. MACLEAN

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the amount can be exceeded over the amount allowed by the Ministry of Labour?

Sir H. YOUNG

All these implications are quite unjustified and may be dangerous, and I would ask careful consideration for the actual terms of the question and answer.

Mr. MACLEAN

rose

Mr. SPEAKER

We cannot have a debate on this question now.