§ 41. Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Health the terms of the letter sent by his Department to the Durham Public Assistance Committee in respect to their duties as relieving authorities?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend thinks it is generally undesirable to make public the terms of a letter addressed to a local authority before the local authority have had an opportunity of considering the letter.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that one paragraph in the letter has already been interpreted publicly as meaning that the whole of the disability pension will be taken into consideration? Can he give the proper interpretation of the letter?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARENo interpretation of the paragraph is justified. The letter has not yet been published, and should not be published until the Committee have considered it.
§ Mr. LAWSONWill the hon. Gentleman say that the interpretation that the whole of the disability pension will be taken into consideration is an illegal interpretation?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREOne cannot spend his time replying to reports in the Press.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIt was issued on 19th May.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARENo, not according to my information.