HC Deb 25 May 1939 vol 347 cc2462-4
3. Mr. Tomlinson

asked the Minister of Labour whether the allowance paid to an unemployed parent on behalf of a child by the Unemployment Assistance Board is paid to the local education authority when such child is sent to an approved school and the parent no longer receives such maintenance though remaining unemployed?

Mr. E. Brown

The Board has no power to pay any part of an allowance to an education authority.

Mr. Tomlinson

Does not the Minister think it would be unfair to a local education authority to be deprived of an allowance which has previously been paid to a parent when the authority is called upon to foot the whole of the bill for the upkeep and maintenance of the child?

Mr. Brown

Perhaps the hon. Member will send me the case he has in mind and I will look into it.

12. Mr. Ridley

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board, in determining the amount of assistance to which an applicant is entitled, are taking into account widows' pensions where the widow, not being related to the applicant, is acting as housekeeper to his family; and under what provision or regulation such a calculation is authorised?

Mr. Brown

I am informed by the Board that this normal practice is to regard a widow's pension belonging to a member of an applicant's household as appropriated exclusively to her own needs. If, however, the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and cares to send me the details I will have inquiries made.

Mr. Ridley

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, assuming that calculations are being made in the way I have indicated, he would regard that as an irregularity, and if so, will he make that known to the officials?

Mr. Brown

I should like to look into the matter. There has been no general difficulty or trouble about this matter.

24. Mr. Kirby

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that of the free meals provided to school children by the Liverpool Education Committee approximately 51 per cent. are supplied to families dependent upon unemployment assistance, and 10 per cent. upon unemployment insurance benefit; and as this throws an undue burden upon the Liverpool ratepayers in maintaining persons classified as able-bodied, the responsibility of the National Exchequer, will he consider increasing the allowances and benefits of those concerned to a point that they will not need to apply for free meals, thus lessening the burden borne by Liverpool ratepayers in this respect?

Mr. Brown

Any increase in the rates of benefit or of unemployment allowances are matters for the Statutory Committee and the Unemployment Assistance Board respectively. Since, however, free meals are given to school children by education authorities under statutory powers which provide for such meals being given on medical or educational grounds to children unable to take full advantage of the education provided for them, I cannot agree that the fact that children, whose parents are drawing unemployment benefit or unemployment allowances, participate in free meals so provided is in itself an indication that the rates of benefit or allowances call for revision.

Mr. Kirby

Does the Minister appreciate the fact that these families who are in receipt of unemployment assistance have to go through the means test; that the allowances which are paid to them are supposed to be in accordance with their need and that it is clearly shown that 50 per cent. of these families do not get adequate allowances?

Mr. Brown

I have already said that I do not accept that. There are other factors to be taken into consideration.