§ 4. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the abuses obtaining in the administration of Public Assistance, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Orpington; and what action he is taking to prevent such practices.
§ Mr. PeakeI am in touch with the National Assistance Board, who are responsible for the administration of assistance. They point out that there will always be some people who will try to evade their responsibilities and others who will succeed in abusing any system of relief; but that such people form only a very small proportion of the total number receiving assistance. The Board are looking into the matter to see whether further steps can be taken to prevent abuse.
§ Sir W. SmithersAre not these abuses, which were recently exposed in a leading article in "The Times," conclusive evidence that the Socialistic concept of a comprehensive Welfare State is squandering public money, killing initiative and ruining character, and that that is why our prisons were never so full as they are today?
§ Mr. PeakeNo, Sir, I cannot agree with everything that my hon. Friend has said. The National Assistance Board 5 have been fully aware, as have their predecessors, of this problem of the work-shy who form a very small proportion of the total whom the Board have to assist. The disclosures to which my hon. Friend refers have, in fact, themselves appeared in the annual reports of the Board, who are well aware of the position and are doing their very best to deal effectively with it.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhat action are they taking?
§ Dr. King: Is the Minister aware that the administration of the National Assistance Board throughout the country is being conducted not only efficiently but with great humanity?
§ Mr. PeakeI can certainly join in the tribute which the hon. Gentleman has paid to the work of the Assistance Board.