§ 55. Mr. George Jegerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will repay post-war credits to those applicants whose needs are certified by the Assistance Board, and so save the expenditure of public money.
§ Mr. GaitskellI have nothing to add to the reply given on the 13th November last to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Smithers).
§ Mr. JegerIs my right hon. Friend aware that a number of applicants for assistance need small sums occasionally for the renewal of clothing and household goods, and would it not be better to give them their own money in the form of the repayment of their post-war credits rather than to pay them out of the Assistance Board funds?
§ Mr. GaitskellI very much doubt whether the small numbers of persons who would be able to claim post-war credits in those circumstances would justify the expenditure of effort and administrative man-power in arranging the particular scheme which my hon. Friend suggests.
§ Lieut.-Commander BraithwaiteIs the Chancellor aware that there is widespread anxiety on this matter on both sides of the House, and will he bear in mind when framing his Budget the possibility of reform?
§ Mr. GaitskellIf the hon. and gallant Member will study this, he will see that it is really a very narrow point.
§ Mr. Iain MacLeodWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this question has the further advantage that it might encourage people to accept payments from National Assistance, which at the moment many of them, for perfectly honourable reasons, are reluctant to do?