§ 2. Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now able to make a statement with reference to the abolition of the household means test; and whether any reports on this subject have been received from the Public Assistance Board during the last 12 months?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question put by him on 5th December last. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend has been in almost continuous communication with the board on this and other subjects, for many months past.
§ Mr. MANDERWhen vas the last report received?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADMy right hon. Friend has been in communication with the Unemployment Assistance Board on the subject almost daily.
§ Mr. MANDERDo I understand that the board, which has been considering the matter for 12 months, is unable to make up its mind or to present the Minister with a report? Is it so incompetent?
§ Mr. LAWSONHave any sample cases been taken by the Unemployment Assistance Board as to the operation of the means test in the country generally, and, if so, can the House have the result of the tests?
§ Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSWill my hon. and gallant Friend remember some of the suggestions I made to him during a recent Debate on this subject?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI can assure the hon. Member for Chester-le Street (Mr. Lawson) that everything which is relevant to this question has been considered, and every investigation that is likely to bear upon it in order to reach a satisfactory solution has been made. In reply to ray hon. and gallant Friend, I remember everything he says.
§ Mr. STEPHENIs not the House entitled to get an answer to the second part of this question, whether there has been such a report by the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe House is only entitled to get the answers it does get.
§ 14. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Minister of Labour in what towns and administrative districts are the able-bodied unemployed, who would normally have been receiving the new scales of the Unemployment Assistance Board which the Government withdrew last March, receiving a lower scale from the public assistance committee?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI presume the hon. Member is referring to unemployed persons who will not be transferred to the Unemployment Assistance Board until the Second Appointed Day. I am not in a position to say whether or how far they are receiving allowances lower than those which would have been made by the board if they had been so transferred.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs the Minister aware that in Yarmouth, for instance, they are paying lower scales than would be paid according to the first Order, and will he see to it that where that is the case the authorities are advised to pay scales on a level with those in the original Order, until the new Order is introduced?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThese cases are all dealt with in accordance with the practice in different localities, and I do not see that there is any ground for interfering with it.
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSIs it not a breach of the Stand-Still Order? That Order states definitely that they must be given the higher rate, so that if they are receiving less than the Unemployment Assistance Board scale rates, which were hung up, it is a breach of the law, and the Minister had better have those responsible summoned at once.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe hon. Member is referring to persons who come before the board for treatment by the board. That question refers to those who do not come before the board, but remain in the care of the public assistance committee.
§ 21. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that hardship is being caused to numbers of ex-service men by reason of the fact that their pensions are taken into consideration when they have to seek assistance from the Unemployment Assistance Board and whether he will consider the introduction of new regulations permitting these war victims to enjoy the full benefit of such pensions as have been awarded to them?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. R. J. Taylor) on 27th February, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs the Minister not aware that many of these discharged soldiers are getting very shabby treatanent, and will he not take steps to see that it is immediately stopped?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI cannot accept the contention of the hon. Member that they are getting shabby treatment.
§ Mr. GALLACHERThey are.
§ Mr. STEPHENWill the Minister refer this question to the board?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI could not give an undertaking on that point.