§ 53. Mr. E. D. SIMONasked the Minister of Health the number of public assistance committees in England and Wales that are giving relief to able-bodied unemployed wholly in money; and, in view of the regulations issued by the Ministry, what steps is he taking to put a stop to the practice?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am not aware of any Public Assistance Authority which gives relief wholly in money to all able- 586 bodied applicants, but I am aware of a few instances of substantial departure from the Regulation, in which, no doubt, the convenience of cash payments both to the administration and to the recipients has tended to outweigh other considerations. In my view, the object of securing that relief should reach the applicant's family in the form of necessary articles of food is more important than any question of convenience, and I am impressing this view on the authorities concerned. Exceptional cases in which half the relief in cash may be inadequate to meet any necessary outgoings can, of course, be reported to my Department for special consideration.
§ Mr. MILLSIs my right hon. Friend aware that many public assistance committees are insisting upon a form of task work which, as the result of 36 hours' work, gives 5s. 6d. in money and 5s. 6d. in kind to these applicants; and does he not consider that to be something that he ought to inquire into?