§ 9. Mr. McGovernasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons and families in the Glasgow area who have received increased allowances and the number who have had decreases since being taken over from the Glasgow public assistance department?
§ Mr. E. BrownI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. McGovernCan the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that I can get the figures at almost any Exchange? How is it that he, as the head of a Department, cannot get the figures?
§ Mr. McGovernSurely the Minister is here for the purpose of supplying information that is of value to Members of the House, and this information being valuable, I ask that he should get it as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. BrownI will look into it again, but the hon. Member will understand that I am charged with the public duty of deciding whether obtaining such information will mean an undue burden upon those who are responsible for the public administration.
§ 15. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider amending existing legislation to make provision for allowances being paid on behalf of permanently invalided adults who are dependent brothers or sisters of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit?
§ Mr. BrownI would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 473 to 476 of the report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance. I am not aware of any ground for departing from the conclusion reached by the Commission.