HC Deb 28 April 1936 vol 311 cc727-9
54. Mr. WHITELEY

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state the result of his inquiries with respect to the special advance recently granted to the miners being treated as income under the means test?

Mr. E. BROWN

On the general issue I cannot add to the replies to previous

for each of the 12 months ended 25th March, 1936, or latest convenient date?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

questions. As the hon. Member is aware, I am always prepared to look into any individual case which may be brought to my notice.

Mr. WHITELEY

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the public readily agreed that the miners ought to have some additional purchasing power to relieve the poverty and distress in their areas, and is he prepared to put that special side of the matter to the board in order that no hardship shall arise in the homes where this advance has been received?

Mr. BROWN

I saw some hon. Members about this matter and I am awaiting a joint statement from them.

Mr. LAWSON

But would it not be a simple matter to exclude this addition from the calculation? Why all this evasion of a simple matter?

Mr. SHINWELL

When the right hon. Gentleman states that he is always willing to consider any special case, does he mean that is irrespective of the administrative powers of the Unemployment Assistance Board?

Mr. BROWN

Not at all; I mean, of course, within the law.

Mr. SHINWELL

Then are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman cannot deal with any special case?

Mr. BROWN

I can do what I always do, and that is ask the board to examine it and see whether the case has been handled as it should have been.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Could not the Minister end all this by bringing in regulations which would abolish the means test?

Mr. BROWN

I could not.

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