33. Miss WARDasked the Minister of Labour under what statutory authority the Unemployment Assistance Board is acting in taking into consideration in the assessment of need Army Reserve pay due while W. D. Bell, of Willington Quay, Northumberland, is drawing standard benefit?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)Under the Unemployment Assistance Act the Board may grant an allowance only to a person who proves that he is in need, and the Regulations made under the Act require that for the purpose of determining need account must be taken of the available resources. The Board are advised that available resources are resources which are, in fact, available when the application for an allowance is considered, irrespective of the period over which they may have accrued.
Miss WARDIn view of the fact that Army Reservists are the only class of person whose income is assessed after it is due, when the new regulations are introduced will they take into consideration what appears to be an injustice to one section of the community?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI could not make any promise.
§ Mr. DICKIEDo we understand that these deductions are legal in the case of standard benefit also?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThis is properly an unemployment assistance case, not a benefit case.