HC Deb 22 June 1959 vol 607 cc836-7
9. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number of people in the towns of Leek, Kidsgrove, Biddulph and Cheadle, respectively, in receipt of National Assistance for each of the years 1950 to the latest available date in 1959, and the number of these provided with a grant this last year to meet any increases in rents.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that the information asked for is not available as separate records have not been kept for these four towns, which are each situated in much larger areas served by the Board's area offices.

Mr. Harold Davies

Is the Minister aware that this is the second time in the last two weeks that I have received the reply that this type of information is not available? First, I could not get information on money given to private enterprise. Now, in a little local area like this, we are unable to get the information about the assistance given to subsidise private landlords. Are the figures in today's report those of the overhead expenditure on rent allowance?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The hon. Gentleman must not ask me to summarise the full report. He has it in his hand and he can perfectly well read for himself. The difficulty about the Question on the Order Paper—and I am sorry I cannot give the figures—is that the four places the hon. Gentleman picked out are quite small proportions of three much larger areas served by the National Assistance Board area offices.