ASSISTANCE.

HC Deb 15 April 1937 vol 322 cc1148-50

1. Mr. Mathers

asked the Minister of Labour the number of increases and decreases of benefit which have been made in West Lothian under the new Unemployment Assistance Board's Regulations?

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)

At the latest dates for which figures are available the number of assessments increased above the "standstill" rate was approximately 300, and there was one decrease. These figures relate to the Board's administrative area of Bathgate, which roughly corresponds with West Lothian.

Mr. Mathers

Can the Minister say, from the information available to him now, what the final position is likely to be in respect of increases or decreases?

Mr. Brown

Not at the moment. That is not the question on the Paper. I am asked for the facts at the latest date.

2. Mr. Mathers

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that under the administration of the Unemployment Assistance Board the weekly benefit to single adult male persons in West Lothian has been reduced to 14s. per week; and whether he will cause this amount to be increased, seeing the county scale is 17s.?

Mr. Brown

I am informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board that the statement in the first part of the question is incorrect. There are in this area single adult males without resources who are receiving allowances of 14s. a week, but they are persons who were previously receiving this amount from the public assistance authorities and have not yet been re-assessed under the Board's Regulations.

Mr. Mathers

Does the Minister wish to indicate that no one in that category has had a—temporary it may be—reduction in benefit?

Mr. Brown

No, Sir. The question put to me was whether benefit has been reduced, and that is not so. Our assessments of that class of young man have not yet taken place. These are questions arising out of the Second Appointed Day. I would point out, as I did in my answer, that there are adult males who are receiving 14s., and that they are the persons with whom we are dealing now.

Mr. Lawson

Is the Minister not aware that the single man would not get 14s.?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member's statement is inaccurate. It is true that in certain areas that would be unusual, but if he took the whole country the hon. Member would find that it was so. There are great variations.

Mr. George Griffiths

Is it not a fact that thousands of single young men are receiving only 10s. under the assessment committee?

6. Mr. David Grenfell

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unmarried persons without dependants who have exhausted their standard benefits, and who are given nil determination or reduced, allowances by the Unemployment Assistance Board?

Mr. Brown

On 22nd February last, about one-third of the 580,823 applicants for unemployment assistance had no dependants. The allowances at present being paid to such applicants are affected not only by the regulations but by previous standstill practice, and I regret that information is not available for the purpose of comparing allowances granted to them with unemployment benefit rates.

Mr. Grenfell

Cannot the Minister give an approximate estimate in order that we may know the probable balance available?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member knows that I am always very willing to help him. If he will see me perhaps we can discuss the matter, and he may find out what he wants to know.

Mr. G. Griffiths

How is it that the Minister knows about the rises and not about the falls?

Mr. Brown

We know about both, and we know that there have been many rises and few falls.

8. Mr. Grenfell

asked the Minister of Labour the amount by which the allowances paid to unemployed persons have been reduced in consequence of the operation of the regulations of 1936; and whether, in view of the increase in the cost of living, it is contemplated that the date for effecting reduction in amounts paid to single men shall be indefinitely deferred?

Mr. Brown

Since the coming into force of the regulations of 1936 there has been an increase in the average weekly payments of assistance to applicants and not a reduction. In November, 1936, the average payment was 23s. 9d., in the week ended 20th March it was 24s. 6d. The latter figure includes cases in which there has been a reduction under the regulations. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 8th April to the hon. Members for Doncaster (Mr. Short) and Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson).

Mr. Grenfell

The figures for 1936 do not give a full view of the picture. May I ask whether it is not a fact that in 1936 there has been a decrease in the amount of unemployment allowances and further increases in the cost of living?

Mr. Brown

I should not say that. I should say that the comparison which I have given is a fair comparison.