HC Deb 08 November 1937 vol 328 cc1413-4
65. Mr. Sandys

asked the Minister of Labour whether families living upon Unemployment Assistance Board's and Public Assistance Committee's allowances are included in the present inquiry into family budgets; and, if not, whether it is intended to hold a separate investigation in order to obtain information about the food consumption and nutritional standards of such families?

Mr. Butler

Persons who were in receipt of unemployment assistance were, as fax as possible, omitted from the lists of those invited to supply information in connection with the family budget inquiry now being undertaken by the Department, and under the procedure for selecting the sample, persons in receipt of public assistance would not normally have been included. My right hon. Friend does not propose to have a separate investigation in such cases.

Mr. Sandys

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that it will be possible for the Government to formulate their nutrition policy without having the fullest information about the dietary of the poorest families?

Mr. Butler

The decision in question was arrived at as a result of the advice of the Advisory Committee. There was a difference of opinion in the Committee, and the trade union representatives took the view that it was not wise to include these families.

Mr. Sandys

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the purpose of the inquiry is twofold first, to establish the cost of living, and, second, to enable the Government to formulate a far-reaching nutrition policy?

Mr. Butler

Yes, my right hon. Friend is well aware of both.

Mr. Lawson

Was not the view of the Advisory Committee that there should be a separate investigation into these cases?

Mr. Butler

The view of the Committee upon which, as I say, there was a difference of opinion, was certainly that these people should not be included.

Mr. Lawson

But did they object to a separate investigation?

Mr. Butler

Perhaps the hon. Member would put that question down.

66. Mr. Sandys

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to publish a full summary of the results of the inquiry at present being conducted into family budgets; and, if so, when he expects to be in a position to do so?

Mr. Butler

A full summary will be published in due course. I would remind my hon. Friend that four sets of budgets are to be collected, the last of them in the summer of next year. It will be a considerable time, therefore, before the complete results will be known.