§ 68. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to grant public assistance committees power to give supplementary relief in the form of a coal allowance during the winter months to persons in receipt of unemployment assistance under the standstill arrangements?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARELocal authorities are debarred by the Unemployment Act, 1934, from granting outdoor relief to persons in receipt of unemployment assistance allowances. As was pointed out by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Labour in answer to a question on 5th December last, the Unemployment Assistance Board have power to determine and, where necessary, to vary allowances on the actual need of each individual case, and in these circumstances my right hon. Friend does not think legislation to give the power suggested is necessary.
§ Mr. SMITHIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in many instances the unemployed are worse off this winter than they were last winter, and is not the present position a violation of the promise given when the standstill arrangements were agreed to by this House?
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSCannot these people get coals through the "pots and pans" clause in the Unemployment Assistance Board's Regulations?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIn many areas men on transitional payment in the old days might at Christmas time get an extra allowance for special need. Since they were transferred to the Board, the Board still has power to deal with cases of special need.
§ Mr. SMITHDoes the hon. Gentleman want the House to believe that the Unemployment Assistance Board has discretionary power to grant coal allowances during the winter months?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARECertainly, in cases of special need, where such allowance was made.