§ 70. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that old age pensioners in receipt of supplementary pensions whose homes are destroyed by enemy action are being subjected by officers of the Assistance Board to another means test and their supplementary pensions reduced by the amount they were paying in rent; and will he take the necessary steps to modify this drastic treatment?
Mr. M. MacDonaldIn the case of pensioners who have been evacuated and billeted under the official scheme, the Board inform me that in assessing the supplementary pension to be paid in the light of the new circumstances in which the pensioner is living the fact that the pensioner's rent is being paid for him by the State is taken into consideration but that the assessment is not necessarily reduced by the amount of the billeting payment. If the hon. Member has any other types of cases or any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I shall be glad to have inquiry made.
§ Mr. MorrisonHas not the right hon. Gentleman, in his recent tours of bombed areas, come across hundreds of cases of people who have lost their homes and everything else? Old age pensioners receiving supplementary allowances are taken in by neighbours, and a few days later a public assistance officer deprives them of their supplementary pension. Is 823 not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is causing great dismay?
Mr. MacDonaldThat is not the information which I get from the Assistance Board, but if the hon. Member would give me one or two examples, I should be very grateful. I will look into this matter and test the accuracy of the information given to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. ThurtleWill the right hon. Gentleman impress upon his officials that at the present time it is far better to err on the side of generosity?
Mr. MacDonaldThe officials have received that instruction, and my information is that they are acting according to it. I will, however, look into the whole matter.