§ 57. Mr. WHITEasked the Minister of Labour whether it is his intention to introduce legislation to amend the Unemployment Act, 1934, to enable the Unemployment Assistance Board to meet the needs of members of households whose needs are not met owing to the failure of members of a household to make the payments prescribed by an assessment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADNo, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 2nd July last.
§ Mr. WHITEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman fully seized of the fact that the Unemployment Assistance Board ca[...]not carry out their statutory duties wit out amending legislation, or an arrangement of some kind; and is he prepared to look further into the matter since suffering is actually being caused? Is it not the case that he can do nothing in this matter without removing the household means test?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI am not convinced that such legislation is needed.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the Minister's reply to be taken as meaning that he considers it unnecessary to have legislation to remove the means test; and is he going to remove it as an administrative act?
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSIs the Minister aware that the operation of this means test is producing in this country a crowd of suicides?