HC Deb 24 June 1937 vol 325 cc1352-3
15. Mr. Batey

asked the Minister of Labour whether the recent advance of wages which miners have received in the county of Durham will be taken into calculation where any unemployed persons living in the household are receiving unemployment allowance under the means test?

Mr. E. Brown

Such cases will be treated, in accordance with the Regulations, in the same way as any others in which there is an increase in the household resources which, under the Act, must be taken into account. The result in each case must depend on all the relevant facts and circumstances. I would remind the hon. Member that it is open to any applicant who feels that his case has not been properly dealt with to exercise his right of appeal under the Act.

Mr. Batey

Has the Minister not discussed this matter with the Unemployment Assistance Board? Does his answer mean that where men have got advances in wages those advances have been taken into consideration where there are unemployed persons in the household?

Mr. Brown

If the facts warrant it.

17. Mr. Logan

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been directed to the criticism of the Unemployment Assistance Board by the Lancashire Education Committee at Preston; is he aware that of 169 cases sent to the Unemployment Assistance Board asking for footwear for necessitous school children 26 applications only were approved; and, seeing that the scales provide for food and footwear when they are below the Poor Law scales, what action, if any, does he intend to take to remedy this inequality?

Mr. Brown

I have not received representations from the Lancashire Education Committee on the matter to which the hon. Member refers. The weekly allowances granted by the Unemployment Assistance Board are intended to cover all ordinary needs of applicants and of the dependent members of their households, including the provision of footwear. Special additional allowances may be granted in exceptional cases, but the Board must, of course, be satisfied as to the existence of exceptional need before such allowances are given. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular issued by the Board of Education which indicates the arrangements that may be made respecting the supply of footwear for school children. I understand that satisfactory arrangements on these lines have been set up in the area of the Lancashire Education Committee.

Mr. Logan

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that answer, if I send him a copy of a newspaper with details of this particular case, will he investigate it? Am I to understand that although the Lancashire education committee, have had 169 cases brought before it the advisory committee will not allow footwear to the children of Lancashire who are in poverty? Seeing that the Poor Law are able to give footwear, why is not an unemployed man able to get the same benefit?

Mr. Brown

As the hon. Member knows, these cases are dealt with under the regulations on their merits, and if he has any difficulty in any particular case I will look into it.

Mr. Logan

As this is a point which concerns the whole country, does the right hon. Gentleman think it is right that there should be only 169 cases on the one hand, and, on the other, only 26?

Mr. Brown

It depends entirely upon the judgment of those who are responsible under the law.

Mr. Logan

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter at the first opportunity.