§ 7. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour whether any recent scientific investigation has taken place into the weekly sum of money required for the maintenance of life on a, reasonable standard of subsistence; and, if so, what relation this bears to the allowances at present being made under the means test?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONCertain unofficial estimates of the sum necessary to provide for hypothetical standards of living have, I believe, been made from time to time but I am unable to express an opinion as to how far the various standards adopted would meet with acceptance as being reasonable.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes not my right hon. Friend think that information of this kind would be extremely valuable to the House in view of impending legislation?
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEMay I ask whether it is not perfectly futile to put down a question of this kind?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe answer which I was about to give to the first supplementary question, though in different language, would have been on somewhat the same lines as the second supplementary question.
§ Mr. MANDERBut is it not a fact that it might not be equally futile to put such a question to another type of Government