HC Deb 04 May 1933 vol 277 cc982-3
4. Mr. MANDER

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the advisability of issuing a circular to public assistance committees to revise transitional payments without undue delay, in view of the long period during which applicants are at times kept waiting?

Mr. HUDSON

My right hon. Friend has no evidence of such delay, and will be obliged if the hon. Member will furnish him with particulars of the cases on which he bases his question.

7. Mr. MANDER

asked the Minister of Labour the total cost to the State if children's allowances under the administration of transitional payments were increased from 2s. to 4s.?

Mr. HUDSON

Owing to the operation of the needs test, any estimate of the cost of this proposal must be pure conjecture.

Sir PERCY HARRIS

Will the hon. Gentleman try to make some conjecture of some practical kind so that we may have some guide on the matter?

Mr. HUDSON

Any estimate I might make would be pure conjecture.

Sir P. HARRIS

May we have the conjecture?

Mr. HUDSON

I am sure thon hon. Member is as capable as I am of making conjectures.

19. Mr. D. GRENFELL (for Mr. T. WILLIAMS)

asked the Minister of Health the nature of the interview between officials of his Department and the clerk to the West Riding (Yorks) County Council on 22nd March; on whose authority the interview was arranged; and why no members of the public assistance ommittee were invited to attend?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on 2nd May.