§ 42. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Assistance Board make any allowance to claimants who are subject to the waiting-period condition and are in need, or whether such claimants are to apply to the relieving officers of the public assistance authority?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe Board's officers are fully empowered to deal with applications from claimants who are subject to the waiting period condition and to make determinations in the light of all the circumstances of the case. In this connection, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 25th November last to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White).
§ Mr. LawsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a dispute about this question in the London area, and will he make the inquiries as to what is the practice?
§ Mr. BrownI am not aware of that. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars I shall be glad to look into it. The answer to which I have referred shows that during the week ending 12th November there were 2,194 cases in which allowances were granted.
§ Mr. LawsonCould the right hon. Gentleman make this matter more public, as there is a dispute between the relieving officers and the officers of the Board on this matter?