§ 1. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour whether he will, in view of the increased cost of living, request the Unemployment Assistance Board to increase the allowances to unemployed persons in all suitable cases?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) yesterday.
§ Mr. DaviesIs it possible for the Unemployment Assistance Board to increase the allowances to these people, in addition to what is called the winter allowance, in respect of the increased cost of living necessity?
§ Mr. BrownThe question implies an increased cost, and the hon. Member will understand that the last figures three weeks ago did not show an increase, and we shall not know what the present figures are for another week.
§ Mr. T. SmithCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Unemployment Assistance Board officers have been instructed to exercise a little more discretion in cases where unemployed people have been put to expense in regard to the black-out?
§ Mr. BrownAs the hon. Member and the House know, a considerable amount of discretion is exercised, and if the hon. Member has any particular cases to bring before the Board they will no doubt consider them.
§ 5. Mr. Roland Robinsonasked the Minister of Labour whether unemploy- 1456 ment insurance and unemployment assistance children's allowances are still paid to parents of children who have been evacuated under the Government scheme?
§ Mr. BrownIn the light of decisions of the Umpire in analogous cases persons in receipt of unemployment benefit whose children have been evacuated under the Government scheme continue for the present to draw dependants benefit. In order to obtain a specific decision by the Umpire steps are being taken to bring a case or cases before him. As regards payments by the Unemployment Assistance Board, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 21st September to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson), of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. RobinsonWill it be possible for my right hon. Friend to see that the children's allowances are paid to the people who are actually maintaining the children?
§ Mr. RobinsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that as things are now the Government are paying twice over?
§ Miss WilkinsonIs the Minister aware that, if the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman were adopted, as it has been in many places, the net result would be that a man would be left with the whole responsibility for rent and for household expenses on what was a reduced allowance?
Miss RathboneWould it not be a good device if in these cases the allowances to the mother and children were paid to the mother?
§ Mr. BrownThat is not my responsibility, and the question should be put down to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs it not the fact that the hon. Member for Blackpool (Mr. R. Robinson) voted for these small sums for the unemployed man's child and now they are not sufficient for Blackpool?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Member will understand that the hon. Lady the Mem- 1457 ber for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson) puts the opposite point of view.