§ 47. Mr. G. Straussasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that people who have had their clothes destroyed in air raids often have to wait many hours at Unemployment Assistance Board offices before they can get a grant; that the grants when made are, in many cases, quite inadequate to buy necessary clothing, and applicants are sometimes not given Form W.D.3 informing them that the first payments may be followed by a subsequent one; and will he investigate these complaints with a view to remedying them?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)The Assistance Board do their best to save applicants from waiting, but in the nature of things it is not always possible to foresee and make provision for the attendance of large numbers at particular points. I cannot accept the suggestion that the grants made are inadequate, though on this matter and the further point raised in the Question I will look into any particular cases which the hon. Member cares to bring to my notice.
§ Mr. StraussIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that applicants sometimes have to spend one day there and are then told to come back the next day, and that in some offices the grants given are quite ridiculously small? If I send the right hon. and gallant Gentleman quite a large number of cases, will he look into them?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, Sir. I rather think I have already looked into some cases which the hon. Member sent to me.
§ Mr. StraussIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I have a similar batch concerning the same office, and will he pay particular attention to them?