HC Deb 17 February 1958 vol 582 cc840-2
5. Mr. Houghton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons have received increases under the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Amendment Regulations, 1957, up to 2s. 6d., 3s. to 5s., 5s. 6d. to 10s., and 10s. 6d. to 20s. per week, respectively; and how many persons receiving allowances in January, 1958, have received no increase.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The National Assistance Board regrets that information about the effect of the recent increases in the assistance rates is not available in the detail asked for. The answer to the second part of the Question is, so far as the Board is aware, "None, Sir."

Mr. Houghton

I do not complain that at this early date the National Assistance Board has not up-to-date figures. Could the right hon. Gentleman give the House a complete summary a little later of the gains and losses on the recent Rent Act in regard to National Assistance and National Insurance benefits, and can he give any idea of the date when a Question to that effect might be answered?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I would gladly give any figures that could be obtained without putting undue administrative labour on the Board, but I must warn the House that the figures suggested would be extremely difficult to obtain. The Board has continually to keep in mind the needs of those who are in receipt of National Assistance and the fact that not only do these needs fluctuate but that it is a fluctuating public.

9. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons who were in receipt of National Assistance in January, 1958, have now ceased to qualify owing to the discrepancy between the recent increase in National Assistance scales and the recent increase in National Insurance benefits.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that complete figures are not yet available, but that it is estimated that about 75,000 assistance supplements to retirement pension and widow's benefit have ceased as a result of the recent improvements in their National Insurance benefits. No figures are yet available in respect of the reduction resulting from the improvements in the other National Insurance benefits.

Mr. Prentice

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that many of the people who just fail to qualify now for National Assistance will qualify again in April and in succeeding months after the second round of increases under the Rent Act? As there may be a lot of confusion and doubt in people's minds, will the right hon. Gentleman ask the National Assistance Board to take all possible steps to explain to people that they should apply again as and when their rent goes up?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not know whether a direct approach to individuals is either necessary or practicable, but I take the hon. Gentleman's point and will see that it is brought to the attention of the National Assistance Board.

28. Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many recipients of National Assistance are receiving a reduced weekly payment as the result of increases in their other benefits; and what is the total amount of money which these reductions represent.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

All recipients of supplementary assistance grants whose National Insurance benefits have been increased will now be receiving less by way of assistance but more total income. On 17th December last about 1,200,000 such grants were being paid. As regards the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Lady to the statement I made on 6th November last.