HC Deb 03 December 1936 vol 318 cc1406-7
13. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total estimated sum that will be saved per year in the county of Cumberland as a result of the new Unemployment Assistance Board regulations and the application of the means test?

Mr. E. BROWN

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rhondda, East (Mr. Mainwaring) on Tuesday last.

17. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour by how much the estimate of £15,000,000 per year, given by his predecessor, has been reduced, as the estimate which was being saved owing to the means test?

Mr. BROWN

The estimate to which the hon. Member refers was related to transitional payments, which had regard to benefit rates and conditions. This is not generally the case with unemployment allowances, and I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 16th July last to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) in which I pointed out the reasons why it is not now possible to give an estimate of the amount saved by the operation of the means test.

Mr. BATEY

If the Minister's predecessor could give an estimate, surely the Minister can?

Mr. BROWN

The hon. Member has had a letter explaining to him the difference between the two things. I could not argue it at Question Time, but I gave a long explanation which he will find in the answer to which I have referred him.

Mr. BATEY

I will raise that on the Adjournment, too.

27. Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

asked the Minister of Labour, as on the last convenient date prior to 16th November, how many of the allowances paid by the Unemployment Assistance Board exceeded the amount which would have been payable to the same applicants under standard benefit?

Mr. BROWN

This information could not be ascertained without an examination as to eligibility for unemployment benefit and a computation in each individual case which I should not feel justified in undertaking.

Mr. WHITE

As this practice is increasing, can the right hon. Gentleman look into it with a view to getting some information?

Mr. BROWN

I have looked very carefully into it, and save on the terms contained in the answer, I do not see the possibility of any results.

Mr. JAMES GRIFFITHS

Will the right hon. Gentleman, at the same time, inquire in how many cases the amounts payable by the Unemployment Assistance Board were less than what would have been payable under standard benefit?

Mr. BROWN

That is an entirely different question.