§ 19. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of persons drawing National Assistance through the Kennington and Brixton area offices and the comparable figures last year.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am informed by the National Assistance Board that the number of weekly National Assistance grants current in the areas served by the Board's Kennington and Brixton offices was 9,297 on 24th January, 1956, and 9,323 on 22nd January, 1957.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the upward trend shown by these figures, which seems to be the general tendency throughout the country? What is the right hon. Gentleman doing to ensure that the numbers of recipients decrease?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Member would be unwise to draw very heavy inferences from an increase of 26 on a number which is over 9,000.