§ 55. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the scale of transitional payments for single adults in lodgings is 15s. 3d. in Durham, as against 12s. 6d. in Newcastle; for adults living with parents, 10s. in Durham and 6s. in Newcastle; for children under 18, 3s. to 8s. in Durham and 2s. in Newcastle; and whether he will sympathetically consider making provision for avoiding such inequalities in the projected Unemployment Insurance Bill?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I am aware that there are differences in the scales of transitional payments in the Tyneside area based upon existing differences of public assistance practice. My hon. Friend will remember that a conference of local authorities was called by the Minister of Health a year ago to consider this point and I can assure him that it will be borne in mind in connection with future legislation.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWill my hon. Friend undertake to impress on the Minister the desirability of bringing those inequalities to an end as soon as possible?
§ Mr. McGOVERNWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in many parts of the country a considerable number of house-breaking cases are directly attributable to the fact that unequal payments—inadequate payments—have been given to a large number of young men?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that the public assistance committee in Newcastle are very largely responsible for this discrimination?
§ Mr. HUDSONThe public assistance committee in Newcastle have the matter of the scales in their own hands. My right hon. Friend is not responsible for the scales which they adopt.