§ 54. Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Labour, having regard to the appeal issued by the Personal Service League referring to the want of clothes and boots by unemployed workers, whether he is prepared to accept this as evidence of the inadequacy of the existing scales of allowances and recommend an increase in the amounts now granted?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Lennox-Boyd)No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 21st October last on the subject of the Board's scales generally. Apart from the payment of weekly allowances under these scales, the Board have wide discretionary powers to meet special or exceptional needs. There will always, however, be scope for the services of voluntary organisations who are free to give help in their own way, and to deal with cases which are outside the province of statutory schemes of assistance.
§ Mr. MainwaringDoes not the reply involve the admission that there is work to be done such as would not be necessary if the Government scheme did not fail to meet adequately the needs of these persons?