HC Deb 07 July 1938 vol 338 cc556-7
1. Mr. James Hall

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that applicants to the Unemployment Assistance Board's office at West India Dock Road for a supplementary grant have been forced to wait for a period before the grant has been allowed; and will he have inquiries made with a view to bringing about the discontinuance of this waiting period in cases where those on standard benefit are entitled to receive a supplementary grant?

Mr. E. Brown

The Board inform me that there is no question of requiring a waiting period in these cases as a matter of rule and irrespective of the individual circumstances. Cases do, however, occur in which the recent employment history and the remuneration received provide grounds for the view that the applicant is not in need of a supplementary grant immediately on cessation of work. Each case is dealt with on its merits, and, when need is established, an allowance is granted.

Mr. Hall

Does the Minister mean to say that, if it is essential that a man should receive a supplementary grant in, say, the fourth week of his unemployment, there is no need for it at an earlier date?

Mr. Brown

The figures for the area show that between 1st April, 1937, and 30th June, 1938, 1,152 applications for supplementary assistance were received at the office in West India Dock Road; that in 90 cases it was refused on the ground that there were outside resources, and that in 1,019 of the remaining 1,062 cases the grant was allowed immediately on application.

16. Mr. George Hall

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for assistance under the Unemployment Assistance Board in South Wales who have suffered reductions in their assessment from July, 1937, to the end of May, 1938, for the reason that their allowance was in excess of their assessment under the revised regulations; and will he give the figures separately for each area affected, also the total saving to the board as the result of these reductions?

Brown

As the reply contains a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The table below shows the number of applicants for assistance in the Board's administrative areas in South Wales who, on the dates indicated, were in receipt of allowances which had been reduced by way of adjustment of the standstill arrangements otherwise than on account of personal earnings. The same individuals may be included on more than one of these dates. Information regarding the total sums involved by the decreases is not available.

U.A.B. Administrative Area. 30th July,1937. 31st December, 1937 29th April,1938 (e).
Cardiff 1. (a) 48 50 230
Cardiff 11. 74 126 181
Merthyr Tydfil 145 179 545
Aberdare 152 269 839
Dowlais 52 100 456
Pontypridd 86 176 634
Ferndale 43 47 239
Porth 79 119 435
Tonypandy 90 194 535
Treorchy 88 118 372
Newport 112 48 103
Bargoed 141 153 325
Caerphilly 134 179 211
Pontypool 294 366 612
Ebbw Vale 76 80 187
Abertillery 172 107 290
Brynmawr 100 74 253
Swansea 403 378 432
Bridgend 368 349 339
Haverfordwest (b) 43 38 30
Lianelly 135 234 221
Maesteg 284 344 332
Morriston (c) 501 551 690
Port Talbot (d) 609 639 729
Ammanford 147 144 181
Totals for Administrative Districts of Cardiff, New port and Swansea. 4,376 5,062 9,401

  1. (a) includes the Outstation Area of Barry.
  2. (b) includes the Outstation Areas of Pembroke Dock and Cardigan.
  3. (c) includes the Outstation Area of Gorseinon.
  4. (d) includes the Outstation Area of Neath.
  5. (e) latest date for which statistics were obtained.