§ 76. Mr. G. Macdonaldasked the Minister of Health the number of public assistance authorities in Lancashire that have taken advantage of the Poor Law (Amendment) Act, 1938, to grant pocket money to old age pensioners in their institutions and the amount of money involved?
§ Mr. ElliotAccording to such information as I have, the only authority in Lancashire that has taken advantage of the power conferred by the Poor Law (Amendment) Act, 1938, to grant a personal allowance to persons aged 65 years or upwards who are inmates of Poor Law institutions is the county council. I have no information as to the cost.
§ Mr. MacdonaldHas the Minister circularised all the Poor Law authorities on this matter?
§ Mr. ElliotYes, Sir, my circular called attention to the coming into operation of the Act.
§ Mr. DayDid not the Minister mention that there were only 33 reception areas; has that number been extended since that date?
§ Mr. ElliotThere is a very large number of reception areas but I did not quite understand the hon. Member's question.
Viscountess AstorHas not this matter of evacuation brought home to local authorities the benefits of open air nursery schools and of working in organised units, and is not the problem of evacuation made much easier if they are organised in some such way?