§ 36. Mr. Walkerasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Motherwell Town Council has introduced a scheme of rent rebates on municipal houses whereby unemployed and low-paid workers with large families get 739 assistance with their rents, and that the Unemployment assistance Board has intimated to the council that, in respect of unemployed workers coming within the jurisdiction of the Unemployment assistance Board, they will apply the means test in respect of rent rebates and deduct from the amounts given to the unemployed the full value of the rent rebates; whether this action of the Unemployment assistance Board has his approval; and under what authority these deductions have been made?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)I am having inquiries made, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.