§ 24. Mr. G. MACDONALDasked the Minister of Health the number of public assistance committees that have had their attention called by his Department to the scales of relief paid to applicants under the means test; in how many cases it has resulted in a lower scale of payments being adopted; and in how many instances has the public assistance committee refused to lower the scale?
Sir H. YOUNGIn the course of ordinary administration there are frequent occasions, as the result of my 2047 Inspectors' reports or otherwise, for addressing communications to public assistance authorities which may include criticisms of scales of relief which they are applying or propose to adopt, and I could not answer specifically such a question as the hon. Member has put. If there is any particular case with which he is specially concerned I shall be glad to give him all the information available.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, even though he may have called the attention of public assistance committees to the scale of relief they are in certain cases enforcing starvation standards in their areas?