HC Deb 10 February 1958 vol 582 cc15-6
29. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the number of applications received by the National Assistance Board for financial assistance as a result of demands for increased rents resulting from the Rent Act, 1957; how many have been approved; and how many cases are receiving consideration.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that information is not available in the form in which it is asked for, but that up to 25th January about 260,000 weekly assistance grants had been increased to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act.

Mr. Dodds

Is this not a revelation, that more than a quarter of a million old-age pensioners on National Assistance have had to ask for increases because of the Rent Act? Could the right hon. Gentleman—I expect he could—give some idea of the amount of public money which has been transferred to landlords' pockets? Is he further aware that there is still a lot to come?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

In the first place, the figure I have given is not related solely to old-age pensioners or retirement pensioners, but to the recipients of National Assistance in general. In the second place, the only difference between the hon. Member and myself is that while we both feel it is right that people of small means should be assisted in paying their rent, whereas the hon. Member thinks that it should be done by the landlord I think it should be done by the community.

Mr. Elwyn Jones

How much?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If the hon. and learned Member will put down a Question, I will do my best to give him an Answer. It is, in fact, extremely difficult to do so, because the figures I have given are those of successful applications and, of course, I have not the figures of how long those amounts remain in payment.

Mr. Dodds

Could the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of my Question which asks how many cases are receiving consideration?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If the hon. Member will study the first part of my Answer, he will see that I told the House that that figure was not available.