HC Deb 16 December 1937 vol 330 cc1308-11
2. Mr. Graham White

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, as on the last convenient date, the number of able-bodied unemployed who, since the second appointed day, have sought allowances from the Unemployment Assistance Board and have been disallowed on the ground that they are out of scope?

Mr. E. Brown

Between the second appointed day and the 26th November last, the Board received about 37,700 applications for assistance from persons to whom the Unemployment Assistance Act did not apply, but the Board is not able to say how many of these applications were repetitions of previous applications to the Board, nor how many of the persons concerned might be described as able-bodied unemployed.

Mr. Thorne

Is the Minister aware that a great many men have been turned down by his Board, but that a great number of them have been able to find work since, which goes to prove that they are able-bodied when they can get work?

Mr. Brown

I am very glad to hear that.

Mr. Thorne

Why did you turn them down, then?

4. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board officer is sometimes compelled to base allowances on artificial calculation of the household income, as that income is later reduced by payment of Income Tax by some member of the family; and whether he will take steps to assess allowances on the real household income?

Mr. Brown

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) on 9th November last year, in which it was explained that provision is already made for deducting Income Tax in calculating net earnings. I am sending the hon. Member a copy. If he is aware of any specific instance in which a suitable deduction does not appear to have been made, the Board will be happy to inquire into it.

Mr. Lawson

Is it understood that the officers are instructed to review particular allowances in the light of Income Tax?

Mr. Brown

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the answer he will see the matter is explained quite clearly, as I say that that provision is already made for deducting Income Tax.

5. Mr. Kennedy

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants who have received an increase of their allowances from the Kirkcaldy Unemployment Assistance Board on account of the in creased cost of living; the number of applicants on standard benefit who have received increases; and the increase in the amount received by applicants up to the end of November last at Kirkcaldy?

Mr. Brown

The number of additions made to assessments on account of the special circumstances dealt with in the Board's circular during the four weeks ended 30th November, in the Board's administrative area of Kirkcaldy, was 438. The average rate of increase was, approximately 2s. a week. The figures exclude cases in which the assessment already contains an equal or greater addition under stand-still arrangements. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that statistics are not available.

6 Mr. White

asked the Minister of Labour the practice of the Unemployment Assistance Board in applying the additional cost-of-living allowances in those cases where reductions of the allowance are being made over a lengthy period?

Mr. Brown

I assume the hon. Member refers to the adjustments in allowances which are being made in the course of the transition from the stand-still. Where an applicant is in receipt of an allowance which is being temporarily increased in accordance with standstill practice, any addition due under the recent instruction is set off in the assessment against the stand-still increase, so that any reduction of the allowance which would otherwise take place is diminished in amount or cancelled.

11. Mr. A. Jenkins

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who are in receipt of unemployment benefit at Blaenavon, Pontypool, and Pontnewydd who, during the month of November, applied to the Unemployment Assistance Board for assistance; and the number of such applications granted?

Mr. Brown

In the Board's administrative area of Pontypool, which includes Blaenavon and Pontnewydd, the number of applications for unemployment allowances in supplementation of payments of unemployment benefit during the four weeks ended 30th November was 37, in 27 of which an allowance was authorised.

12. Mr. Jenkins

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications made for additional assistance and the number of applications granted since instructions were issued to the district officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board instructing them to take into consideration the increase in the cost of living and the greater need of the winter months, at Blaenavon, Pontypool, and Pontnewydd, respectively?

Mr. Brown

The number of additions made to assessments on account of the special circumstances dealt with in the Board's circular during the four weeks ended 30th November, in the Board's administrative area of Pontypool, which includes Blaenavon and Pontnewydd, was 2,217. This figure excludes cases in which the assessment already contains an equal or greater addition under Standstill arrangements. With regard to the number of applications, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 18th November to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths).