§ 7. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Labour whether it is in accordance with the recommendations of his Department that public assistance committees should ascertain the rent paid by applicants for unemployment transitional payments, and recommend them to get cheaper housing accommodation?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThis is a matter within the discretion of local authorities and one upon which I have no power to issue directions to them.
§ Mr. HICKSIs it not desirable to have a general standard of housing below which people should be regarded as being not properly housed, and, therefore, is it not desirable that a public assistance committee should not use their position for the purpose of telling applicants that they ought to move into a smaller house or let some part of their own house?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am of course conversant with the point put by the hon. Member, but I have no power to issue instructions as the matter is entirely in the hands of local authorities.