65. Mr. JENKINSasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been 1317 called to the actions of officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board in pressing applicants for assistance, whose house rents are equal to or in excess of the scales rates, to let part of their houses as apartments; and will he take immediate steps to bring about a discontinuance of this practice?
§ Sir J. BLINDELLMy right hon. Friend is informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board that this point only arises in cases where the accommodation is more than is reasonably required for the applicant and his household, and the rent is correspondingly high. My right hon. Friend does not think it would be right for the board to pay an extra allowance to cover a high rent which could reasonably be reduced by sub-letting; the hon. Member will appreciate, therefore, that if an opportunity for sub-letting is neglected an unnecessary proportion of the allowance would be spent on rent and there would be less available for food and other requirements. My right hon. Friend has no doubt that the local advisory committees will be able to help on this type of case.
Mr. JENKINSDoes the hon. Gentleman not think this is grossly unfair to these people, and will he not arrange for publication of the instructions issued to district officers with regard to this matter.
§ Sir J. BLINDELLI will pass that suggestion to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. T. SMITHAre we to take it that it is the intention of the board to insist on sub-letting where the recipient of the allowance is paying a fairly high rent?
§ Sir J. BLINDELLI think the hon. Member had better take what I have already said in answer to the question.
§ Mr. SHINWELLMay I put a point to you, Sir? There are several very important questions on the Paper relating to the Minister of Labour. Why is it that the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary is not present? With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I think he is not in a position to answer these questions.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not a point for me.
§ Mr. E. SMITHWill my hon. Friend bring to the notice of his right hon. Friend the fact that a large number of local authorities deprecate sub-letting, particularly so far as council houses are concerned?
§ Mr. SHINWELLMay I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether it is possible to obtain the services of the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary to answer these important questions?
§ Mr. ATTLEEMay I ask whether the Leader of the House can give any explanation as to why, on two days running, when we have two Ministers in a Ministry, neither is available to answer questions on the Paper?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)I have not had any notice of that, and I am sorry it should be so. I am sure there is a good explanation, but I will make inquiries, and I can safely say that we will see that one or other of them is here to-morrow.