§ 19. Mr. R. A. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour whether unemployed claimants in receipt of transitional benefit will, under the terms of the Economy Bill, be subject to the Poor Law test relating to destitution as a condition of receiving unemployment insurance benefit?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)In cases in which insurance benefit is not payable, the Public Assistance Authority will assess the amount of transitional payments to be made, not exceeding the full rate of insurance benefit which would have been 654 applicable if the claimants had been eligible for it, and in doing so the authority will proceed generally on the same basis of need as they would adopt in assessing claims for outdoor relief to the able-bodied. Any assistance needed in exceptional cases over and above the transitional payments will be provided by the public assistance authority themselves as it is at present.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Economy Bill is going to pauperise anything from 500,000 to 1,000,000 men. Does he think it is fair treatment?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI neither accept my hon. Friend's statement nor his inference.
§ Mr. TAYLORWill the regulations that are to be issued ensure that reactionary local authorities do give relief to these men Is the hon. Member aware that the White Paper says "may," instead of "shall"?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is a different question from the one on the Order Paper. I must ask the hon. Member to put it down.