§ 11. Mr. MABANEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in determining the assets of an applicant for transitional payment, the capital assets of a brother living with the applicant are in some cases added to the available cash of the applicant and, if the total exceeds £300, a nil determination is made; and if he will circularize public assistance committees with a view to discouraging this practice?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no power to issue instructions in this case. Under the present law, where an authority in determining the need of an applicant takes into account the money and investments of more than one person in the household, such money and investments must be considered in the aggregate.
§ 18. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the case of unemployed workmen living at Wheat- 1153 bottom, Crook, county Durham, and in receipt of supplementary benefit; that when an official calls at their homes to see them and they are absent instructions are left that they must go to Bishop Auckland the following day, a distance of 12 miles; and whether it is intended to pay the omnibus fares for these men?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not aware that any such case has arisen, but if the hon. Member can furnish particulars of any case I have no doubt that the Commissioners for transitional payments in Durham will be prepared to give the matter their consideration.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, Sir; the obvious course for the hon. Member to adopt is to put this matter before the commissioners.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn the event of an hon. Member not getting satisfaction from the commissioners will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry himself?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is a purely hypothetical question. The first course to take, obviously, is to put the matter before the commissioners.
§ 19. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Labour if he will ascertain and state the number of cases where the commissioners in county Durham have written to the employers of miners' daughters in domestic service to ascertain the amount of wages they were earning?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not aware of any such cases. If the hon. Member knows of any case I have no doubt that the commissioners would be glad to have particulars.
§ Mr. BATEYWill the Minister cease recommending us to go to the commissioners, because we are not going there? Is not the Minister responsible to this House, and will he not inquire whether the officers in this district did not take the names and addresses of the employers of these servant girls for the purpose of ascertaining their wages?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe hon. Member should adopt the course which I recommend, and put this question to the 1154 commissioners. My relations with the commissioners have been frequently explained in this House.
§ Mr. BATEYThen does the Minister suggest that we should ask the Prime Minister to abolish the Ministry of Labour?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is not my suggestion at all. My suggestion to the hon. Member is that if he has a grievance he should approach the commissioners, who, I am sure, will look into it.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it the duty of the commissioners to apply to the employers of a person in domestic service to find out the income even when she is not living at home?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is the same question put in a different way. If the hon. Member has any grievance or complaint let him go to the commissioners.
Viscountess ASTORIs it not the case that there is a regular drive being made against these commissioners, who are remarkable men?
§ 22. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men applying for transitional payment in Canterbury are being required to perform tasks at the unemployment occupation centre; that the public assistance committee are opposed to this practice; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.