§ 25. Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONEasked the Minister of Health whether, where under a scale in force for the granting of public assistance or transitional benefit two shillings a week is prescribed for each child, it is intended that a public assistance committee shall have discretion to give in addition an order for a daily allowance of milk to supplement each child's ration; and whether he will make arrangements to obtain from the Milk Marketing Board a supply of milk for that purpose at the price paid for manufacturing milk?
Sir H. YOUNGIt is the duty of a public assistance authority, in affording relief or in determining an application for transitional payment, to take into consideration the whole needs of the family of the applicant for relief and to make their decision accordingly. Where relief is given, whether in supplementation of transitional payment or otherwise, the authority may include in its grant an allowance of milk for children. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the 1363 answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to the Member for St. Pancras on the 15th March.