HC Deb 17 December 1936 vol 318 cc2603-5
13. Mr. W. JOSEPH STEWART

asked the Minister of Labour what is the nature of the arrangements made in regard to the rent allowance by the various advisory committees in the administrative county of Durham and the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields?

Mr. E. BROWN

I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving him the information he desires.

Following is the statement:

A. Each of the nine Advisory Committees has recommended that for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) (a) of paragraph 1 of the First Schedule to the Unemployment Assistance (Determination of Need and Assessment of Needs) Regulations, 1936, the amounts ascertained under sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 1 of the Schedule should he increased as follow:

Where the net rent is greater than one-quarter of the total of the scale rates of all members of the household the amount ascertained as aforesaid should be increased by the lesser of the two following sums:

  1. (a) the amount by which the net rent is greater than one-quarter of the scale rates;
  2. (b) the difference between one-quarter and one-third of the scale rates.

The Durham, Bishop Auckland and Sunderland Committees have added the following proviso to their recommendations: Where the rent is more than one-third of the scale rates and in the opinion of the board's officers is:
  1. (1) Not higher than the rent which the householder would be likely to and could afford to pay if in employment, and
  2. (2) Is reasonable having regard to the accommodation supplied,
then the amount ascertained as aforesaid should be increased by the full amount of the difference between one-quarter of the scale rates and the net rent.

[Note.—In considering cases in which the rent paid may be in excess of one-third of the scale rates of the household the board's officers have been instructed to deal with each case on its merits and in appropriate cases to make such further adjustments as the circumstances may justify.]

B. The committees' recommendations for the adjustment of allowances where the net rent is less than one-quarter of the total scale rates of all members of the household are as follow:

(a) Durham and Bishop Auckland Advisory Committees.

The amounts ascertained under subparagraph (1) of paragraph 1 of the Schedule should be decreased if, and to the extent that, the difference between the net rent and one-quarter of the scale rates exceeds 3s., provided that where an applicant has removed from reasonable accommodation to accommodation which, in the opinion of the board's officers, is inadequate, the application of this rule shall be at the discretion of the board's officers.

(b) Sunderland Advisory Committee.

The amounts ascertained under subparagraph (1) of paragraph 1 of the Schedule should be decreased if, and to the extent that, the difference between the net rent and one-quarter of the scale rates exceeds 3s.

(c) South Shields, Middlesbrough and the Hartlepools Advisory Committees.

The amounts ascertained under subparagraph (1) of paragraph 1 of the Schedule should be decreased if, and to the extent that, the difference between the net rent and one-quarter of the scale rates exceeds 2s.

(d) Gateshead and District Advisory Committee.

The amounts ascertained under subparagraph (1) of paragraph 1 of the Schedule should be decreased if, and to the extent that, the difference between the net rent and one-quarter of the scale rates exceeds 2s. 6d.

(e) Blaydon, Hexham and District Advisory Committee.

The amounts ascertained under subparagraph (1) of paragraph 1 of the Schedule should be decreased if, and to the extent that, the difference between the net rent and one-quarter of the scale rates exceeds 2s. 6d., provided that in the case of an applicant living under predominantly rural conditions a reduction should be made to the extent that the net rent is less than one-quarter of the scale rates.

(f) Darlington, Advisory Committee.

The amounts ascertained under subparagraph (1) of the Schedule should be decreased if, and to the extent that, the difference between the net rent and one-quarter of the scale rates exceeds 2s., provided that in the case of an applicant living in a locality which is predominantly rural in character a reduction should be made by and to the extent that the net rent is less than one-quarter of the total scale rates.