HC Deb 30 July 1956 vol 557 cc889-90
1. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what economies are being made in the functioning of the National Assistance Board in so far as Scotland is concerned.

The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

The Board informs me that it is reviewing its staffing needs in Scotland, as in England and Wales, with a view to some administrative economy, which it assures me will not affect Assistance policy and its application to grants of allowances. Small savings will also be effected by closing some little-used reception centres for casuals.

Mr. Hamilton

Does not the Minister agree that the economies which could be obtained in this direction are in any event marginal? Would he agree that it is the very depth of meanness to look in this field for economies which the Government are seeking to make?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I agree with the hon. Member that in this field the economies are necessarily small, but I would not say that it was either mean—to use the phrase used by the hon. Member—or inappropriate to look for administrative economies in any directions where they can be effected without alterations in policy.

Mr. Steele

Could we have an assurance from the Minister that when the economies are considered the Government will not propose to do the same here as in the matter of pensions, where, I understand, welfare officers are being dispensed with and the Government are asking the W.V.S. to do that work?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the hon. Member will realise, that is a question quite different from the Question on the Order Paper. If he will put it down I will do my best to answer it, but I must not be taken as accepting what the hon. Member says.