§ 39. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Health why, after a declaration that the Assistance Board would not take into account payments made on account of the reception of official evacuees, the supplementary pension of Mrs. Ada Doble, 3, Hengoed Crescent, Hengoed, has been reduced on account of payments she received for housing evacuees?
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Ernest Brown)While as a general rule billeting 853 payments for accommodation only are disregarded in assessing supplementary pensions, the Board feel that they are bound to have some regard to the facts of individual cases. Mrs. Doble was living alone in a house for which she was paying a rent of 10s. 9d. When it was learnt that five people were being billeted on her, it was felt that it would not be reasonable to disregard the whole 19s. a week she was receiving for their accommodation, and at the same time provide for her rent in full.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs the Minister aware that under the declaration, when it was first made, this old age pensioner, aged 73, was in precisely the same circumstances? Under the declaration nothing was taken into account. Will the Minister have regard to the repercussions in this reception area where this old age pensioner takes in two blind people and three children yet has 7s. 6d. supplementary pension stopped?