§ 55. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the disparity in cost to local authorities in payment of public assistance to old age pensioners, and that in a number of cases it is over 1s. in the £ on the rates, and in one case over 3s., while in others it is below 1d. rate in the £; and what steps he intends to take to remove this unfair burden on the heavily rated local authorities?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)I am aware that there are considerable variations in the charge falling to be met by local authorities out of rates and the block grants in respect of the cost of out-relief granted to old age pensioners. This 785 item of expenditure cannot advantageously be considered apart from the cost of public assistance generally, as to which a statement on behalf of the Government was made in this House on 1st February last.
§ Mr. TinkerIs the hon. Member not aware that the average cost is 4d. in the £ to some local authorities and six or seven times as much to others? Can he not deal with that matter by making the old age pension higher?
§ Mr. BernaysThe whole question of the equalisation of public assistance was debated on a Private Member's Motion some months ago, and the House came to an adverse decision in regard to it. In regard to the second part of the supplementary question, I cannot add anything to the statement that has been made already.