§ 14. Mr. Erringtonasked the Minister of Labour whether the sums of money paid during peace time to volunteers for the Auxiliary Fire Services will be excluded from the assessment of income for the purposes of the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. E. BrownI assume that the hon. Member has in mind the bonus which local authorities are authorised to pay to members of the Auxiliary Fire Service who satisfactorily complete their course of training. The Board inform me that this bonus will not be brought into account as income in determining any allowance payable by the Board.
§ Mr. George HallCan the right hon. Gentleman say why this should be treated differently from blind persons pensions and old age pensions?
§ 25. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in certain areas Unemployment Assistance Board officers are refusing exceptional needs grant, even where such exceptional need is recognised, except on condition that the applicant submits to an officer of the Board a companying to supervise the purchases; and will he take steps to stop this practice?
§ Mr. BrownThe Board inform me that the normal practice is to leave the applicant free to purchase the goods required, but that exceptionally it has been thought desirable to exercise some measure of supervision over the expenditure of the money in certain cases. I do not think any action on my part is necessary.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not a shameful thing that applicants should be forced to go and ask for assistance, and then have an officer accompanying them to see how they spend the money?
§ Mr. BrownThere are certain cases where it is not a shameful thing. For instance, a case came to my notice recently where there were five children sleeping in one bed and a grant was made to enable another bed to be purchased. The applicant spent the money on other things, and it was necessary for a second grant to be made, and on that occasion, very properly, an officer went to see that a bed was bought.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that in all walks of life one gets exceptional cases, and is it right that those exceptional cases should be used in order to encourage a practice that is growing, where it is not at all necessary?
§ Mr. BrownI do not accept the hon. Member's statement. The figures show that the practice, far from growing, is less than it was, but there are cases such as the one I have mentioned.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that a whole lot of children would be left without care if hon. Members opposite had their way?