§ 4. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Labour how many applicants for transitional unemployment payment have been reviewed since the commissioners commenced to operate; the number of cases reduced and the total amount of the reductions; and whether he can say how many of these cases were interviewed by the commissioners themselves?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe first statistics of cases dealt with by the commissioner for the county of Durham will be for the period to 17th December. I will let the hon. Member have them as soon as they are compiled.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the Minister in a position to answer the last part of the question as to whether applicants are being interviewed by the commissioners themselves or not?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, Sir, I could not answer that question now, but when I get the reports I will let the hon. Gentleman have all the particulars, including those relating to the point which he has raised.
§ Mr. LAWSONWill the House have any opportunity of reviewing the work of these commissioners? Can we ask questions about specific cases, as there is a good deal of complaint already?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe answer to the latter part of the hon. Member's supplementary question is clearly in the negative. As regards the first part, the hon. Member knows that there are various opportunities for raising that question.
§ Mr. LAWSONWill we have an opportunity of discussing individual cases, or any special report which is laid before the House dealing with the administration of the commissioners?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAny special report laid before the House clearly would be a subject for discussion, but I am not responsible for individual cases.
§ Mr. BATEYBut surely we can put individual cases before the Minister by means of questions in the House?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, Sir. I cannot answer on such cases any more than I answered on individual cases dealt with by the public assistance committees.
§ Mr. THORNEAre these oases in this respect any different from pension cases, which, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, can be raised by questions across the Floor of the House?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not concerned with the Ministry of Pensions. I am only concerned with questions arising in the administration which is the subject matter Of the question.
Captain CROOKSHANKWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear whether these commissioners are under him in any way or not?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe commissioners are no more under me than were the public assistance committees.
§ 6. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether any transitional benefit committees of the various public assistance committees take into consideration the value of free meals supplied to the children of applicants for transitional payments?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich East (Mr. Hicks) on 27th October.
§ Mr. THORNEMay I have a copy of it?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONCertainly.
§ 7. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether any transitional payments committees of the public assistance committees take into consideration dividends in co-operative societies held by applicants when assessing benefit under the means test?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI assume the hon. Member is referring to dividends on purchases, and if so, I understand it is the duty of a committee to take them into account.
§ 8. Mr. ANNESLEY SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the annuity attached to the Victoria Cross is taken into account in assessing transitional payments by certain public assistance committees: and will he take steps to put an end to this practice?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo ease has been brought to my notice. The treatment of applicants in receipt of these annuities is a matter within the discretion of the local authority concerned, who would, no doubt, deal with such cases with a proper regard for all the individual circumstances.
§ 1. Mr. ROSBOTHAMasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that public assistance committees are making deductions from the benefit payments due to unemployed persons on the ground that they are cultivating allotments; and will he issue instructions that this should not be done?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I am not aware of any such cases. This is a matter within the discretion of the local authority concerned and I have no power to issue instructions. I am sure, however, that authorities fully appreciate the national importance of encouraging the cultivation of allotments.