§ 56. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour the general practice pursued by public assistance committees in allowing deductions to be made or otherwise in respect of Income Tax paid on income coming into a home from family contributors?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)Comprehensive information is not available, but I have no reason to believe that authorities generally do not have proper regard for statutory outgoings, including Income Tax payments, in deciding how far any earnings coming into the household are available for the support of its unemployed members.
§ Mr. MANDERIf I call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to divergencies of practice in this matter, will he take what steps he can to alter it?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI will consider any divergencies of practice to which the hon. Member calls my attention.
§ 57. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Wolverhampton Borough Council has now decided to publish the means test scale recently adopted after consultation with his Department; whether he will state what other public authorities have published their scales; and whether he will encourage this course?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONInformation as to the authorities which have given publicity to their public assistance scales is not available. The question of giving such publicity is one entirely within the discretion of the authority concerned, and not one in which it would be proper for me to intervene.