§ 31. Mr. ALBERYasked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to prevent differentiation in the rates of relief paid in areas where similar conditions prevail?
Sir H. YOUNGThe amount of relief to be afforded is for the decision of the 239 public assistance authority in the light of the ascertained needs of the individual case. I have no power either to require uniformity or to define what, for the purpose of assessing relief, are similar conditions. As regards the area to which my hon. Friend called my attention in an earlier question, I am informed that the local authority have taken action to remove the difficulty to which he referred.
§ Mr. ALBERYHas the right hon. Gentleman considered giving the public assistance committees information as to the amount that is being paid in other areas in similar cases in order to get some kind of co-ordination?
Sir H. YOUNGYes. All measures will be taken in order to see that public assistance committees have useful information of that kind.
§ Mr. McGOVERNIn view of the fact that there is a great difference in the scales, in the case of many large areas, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of convening a conference in order to get rid of these differences?
Sir H. YOUNGI doubt very much whether such a conference would be useful. The hon. Member knows that local variations are due to local conditions.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODCould not the Minister of Health issue a circular intimating a standard scale of relief just as is done in the ease of unemployment insurance?
Sir H. YOUNGIf the hon. Member will consider my answer to the question, he will see that I have no power to prescribe any scale of payment.