§ 34. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the public assistance committee of the East Suffolk County Council in Lowestoft is paying scales of able-bodied relief at much lower rates than the scales paid under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and whether, seeing that the Ministry of Health have intervened in cases where the scales of relief were higher than those for transitional benefit, he will intervene equally in cases where they are substantially lower?
Sir H. YOUNGSo far as I are aware, the East Suffolk County Council have not adopted any scale of relief, and I have at present no reason to suppose that they are not adequately discharging their duties in the relief of destitution.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that certain unemployed in Lowestoft are receiving more by way of unemployment benefit than by State relief, and, seeing that the Minister intervenes to prevent the county council from paying scales which are too high, will he not make representations that this county council should at least pay something nearly equivalent to what other parts of the country are paying?
Sir H. YOUNGAs I stated in my original reply, I have no evidence that the county council are not discharging their duty in the correct manner. If the hon. Gentleman has particulars of cases in which it is alleged that there is undue hardship, I will certainly give those cases most careful consideration.
§ Mr. BUCHANANThank you.