§ 51. Mr. Gibsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why instructions were given to his local officers that railway footplate men who applied for assistance for their wives and children during the last few days of the recent railway dispute were to be advised to 26 apply for an advance of wages from their employers and were refused assistance by his Department.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)It is not my local officers but the National Assistance Board who deal with applications for assistance. The Board informs me that, in accordance with normal practice, railwaymen who applied for assistance after the strike was over were expected to take advantage of the employers' offer to make available some payment on account of wages earned, but grants of assistance were made where this payment, with any other available resources, was insufficient to meet need.
§ Mr. GibsonIs the Minister aware that that is not quite correct? I can refer him to one family, at any rate, which was refused assistance when it was in great need. This telling of the men—as one of the officers in my district put it—to "go and sub off the employer," is very much resented by the men involved in the dispute. Is it not possible to get rid of this element in his administration?
§ Mr. PeakeIf the hon. Member has particulars of any case where he thinks the Board has not discharged its duty, perhaps he will be good enough to send me them. In general, I think it is reasonable to expect these men to take advantage of their employers' offers to advance part of their wages before having recourse to the National Assistance Board.