§ 30. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Health the position of a person in receipt of old age pension who is taken into a Poor Law institution; whether the pension is drawn by the Poor Law authorities; and can the relatives be called upon to pay something in addition towards his maintenance while in the institution.
§ Mr. E. BrownWith regard to the first two parts of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards) on 2nd July. As to the third part, the balance of the cost of maintenance may be recovered from the relatives who are liable under Section 14 of the Poor Law Act, 1930, to relieve and maintain the pensioner.
§ Mr. TinkerI take it that the pension is taken by the Poor Law authorities? Does the right hon. Gentleman think it fair that the relatives should be called upon to be taxed in addition? The old age pension ought to be sufficient to maintain the person.
§ Mr. BrownIt is not a matter of my opinion, but of what the law is. The whole of this question of public assistance is at present under consideration.