§ 66. Mr. W. H. Greenasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that 304 old age pensioners who have temporarily left their homes in dangerous areas for the country are now being advised by the Assistance Board that in future the rent they are now paying for the maintenance of their homes will not be taken into account in assessing the amount of their supplementary pension; and is such action taken with the Ministry's approval?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe question raised by the hon. Member is, as he will realise, only part of the larger problem relating to continuing obligations in respect of houses which have been evacuated, which is dealt with by emergency legislation. While continuing in most cases to provide for the rent of evacuated houses or rooms for a reasonable period, the Board feel that they would not be justified in providing indefinitely out of public funds for the rent of such premises, thus, putting pensioners and their landlords in a better position than that of other members of the public.