HC Deb 05 February 1951 vol 483 c1321
16. Mr. Fisher

asked the Minister of National Insurance if the National Assistance Board has recovered payments made to gas workers in the recent illegal strike.

Dr. Summerskill

No, Sir; the Board have no power to recover them.

Mr. Fisher

With great respect, is not the Minister satisfied that, under Section 9 of the 1948 Act, the Board is entitled to recover this claim? As this illegal strike was of great inconvenience to the public, is it reasonable that the public should be asked to subsidise an illegal strike?

Dr. Summerskill

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. I would ask him to read the Act again, more carefully.

Mr. Keeling

Has the Minister read the Section of the Act? Is she also aware that it is not only in accordance with the Act that recovery should be made but in accordance with the intentions of the National Assistance Board, as expressed in a letter of 31st October last, when they said: If assistance is granted to a person on strike, it is on the understanding that the amount granted will be repaid"?

Dr. Summerskill

If the hon. Member reads the Act more carefully he will see that we can only recover allowances which are made when a man is in full employment.

Mr. Keeling

What about Section 11 (2)?

Mr. Blyton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that during the Committee stage of the National Assistance Act we passed an Amendment which abolished the Vagrancy Act, which the Opposition now seek to resurrect?

Dr. Summerskill

Yes, Sir.