§ 6. Lord SCONEasked the Minister of Labour if he will state to the nearest convenient date the number of those who have had their claims for transitional payments examined by the public assistance committee for the Burgh of Perth; how many have been granted full benefit; how many partial benefit; and how many have been entirely disallowed?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONWith my Noble Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table analysing the total number of determinations in the manner desired.
§ Following is the table:
§ DETERMINATIONS given by the public assistance committee for the large Burgh of Perth on application for transitional payments—12th November, 1931, to 20th February, 1932.
| Number of initial applications | 930 |
| Number of renewal applications | 1,097 |
| Total | 2,027 |
| Allowed at maximum benefit rates | 960 |
| Allowed at rates lower than maximum benefit rates | 805 |
| Needs of applicants held not to justify payment being made | 262 |
§ 7. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour the latest figures available of cases determined under the means test, and the number allowed full benefit, partial benefit, and no benefit at all, expressed in terms of percentage; and also the figures of the counties with the highest percentage and lowest percentage of claims disallowed altogether?
§ 9. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have applied for relief to the public assistance committees under the means test and the number whose claims have been rejected?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table analysing the total number of determinations in the manner desired. As regards the second part of the question asked by the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker), I am having the figures got out, and will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.
§ Following is the table:
§ DETERMINATIONS given by public assistance committees in Great Britain on applications for transitional payments, 12th November, 1931, to 20th February, 1932:
| Number of initial applications | 1,421,484 |
| Number of renewal applications | 1,791,378 |
| 3,212,862 |
| Percentage of total applications. | |
| Allowed at maximum benefit rates | 53 |
| Allowed at rates lower than maximum benefit rates | 35.3 |
| Needs of applicants held not to justify payment being made | 11.7 |
§ 8. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Minister of Labour if he can state the number of persons, whose claims were rejected by the public assistance committee under the means test, who took advantage of their right of appeal to the review committee; and whether he will consider issuing a form of words to applicants informing them that they have the right of appeal to the review committee?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no statistics with regard to the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the arrangements for considering representations made by applicants in regard to determinations affecting them are within the discretion of the authority, but, if the hon. Member is aware of cases in which applicants are not aware of such arrangements, and will give me particulars, I shall be glad to consult the authority concerned.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the Minister not aware that the method by which the means test is being put into operation throughout the country is causing grave 434 dissatisfaction? Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the last part of my question, as to whether he will consider issuing a form of words to applicants informing them that they have the right of appeal to the review committee?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have already replied to that question. The public assistance committees in the country have their own arrangements, and it is not possible for me to give them directions; but I am anxious to help the hon. Member, and, if he will give me the name of any authority that he has in mind, I will communicate with that authority in order to allay the grievance which he states exists.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is scarcely a local authority in the country that is not appealed to every week by demonstrations regarding the manner in which the means test has been operated?
§ 15. Captain NORTHasked the Minister of Labour how many claims for transitional payments have been investigated by the public assistance committee of Nuneaton from the date on which the means test was first instituted until the end of February, 1932; in how many cases benefit has been disallowed; and in how many cases benefit has been granted in full and in part, respectively?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONWith my hon. and gallant Friend's permission I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table analysing the total number of determinations in the manner desired.
§ Following is the table:
§ DETERMINATIONS given by the Nuneaton Guardians Committee on Applications for Transitional Payments—12th November, 1931, to 20th February, 1932.
| Number of initial applications | 2,013 |
| Number of renewal applications | 1,961 |
| 3,974 | |
| Allowed at maximum benefit rates | 2,554 |
| Allowed at rates lower than maximum benefit rates | 412 |
| Needs of applicants held not to justify payment being made | 1,008 |