§ 7. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Assistance Board, in deciding in accordance with the Regulation 4, paragraph 1 (2) A, that no application shall be assessed at the sum which is equal to or greater than the amount which would ordinarily be available for the support of a household out of the earnings of the applicant if he was following his normal occupation, has regard to the standard rate for the work or the amount actually received by the man?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI am informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board that in the administration of the corresponding provision in the Regulations now in force regard is had to the amount which would probably be earned by the applicant if he became re-employed in his normal occupation, and that there is no intention to alter this practice.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes that mean that the standard rate will be taken into account or the rate which is actually received?
§ Mr. MANDERIs not that a dangerous state of affairs? Surely the standard rate should be taken into account?
11. Miss RATHBONEasked the Minister of Labour in what number and proportion of applications for assistance, under the present Unemployment Assistance Board regulations and transitional payments, has the amount paid to the applicant been reduced from the full scale payment on the ground that the scale payment would have exceeded the normal earnings when employed of the applicant and of the members of his household included in the assessment?
§ Mr. BROWNStatistics on this point are not available, but I am informed that the number is not large.
17. Mr. JENKINSasked the Minister of Labour whether he will take immediate steps to bring about a cessation of the practice of the Unemployment Assistance Board of bringing pressure to bear on certain applicants for assistance to let parts of their houses to apartment holders or to take lodgers?
§ Mr. BROWNI am informed that there is no general practice of the kind referred to, but that the position is as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 28th July.
Mr. JENKINSIs not this a gross interference with family life? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me under what Section of the Act the Board are entitled to take such action?
§ Mr. BROWNI cannot without notice. In regard to the first supplementary question, I do not think so in certain cases.
§ Mr. JAGGERWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the danger to the sanctity of family life, about which he is so concerned, unless this promiscuous forcing of lodgers upon families is stopped?
§ Mr. BROWNI am much concerned about family life, and I am also concerned about the difficult problem of high and excessive rents.
Mr. JENKINSWill the right hon. Gentleman publish the instructions which have been sent to the district officers concerning this matter?