HC Deb 14 March 1960 vol 619 cc922-3
32. Mr. Emery

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will consider taking the necessary action to change the title of the National Assistance Board.

37. Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what requests he has received to change the title of the National Assistance Board; and if he will make a statement.

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

Suggestions are made from time to time that the title of the National Assistance Board should be changed though they vary widely as to the alternative. I do not think that it would be justifiable to introduce legislation for this purpose. I would remind my hon. Friends that the Board has removed the words "National Assistance" from the order-books on which its grants are cashed at the Post Office and I think this should largely achieve the object which my hon. Friends have in mind.

Mr. Emery

While thanking my right hon. Friend for removing the term from the order-books, may I ask whether he does not realise that there are still many people who, perhaps misguidedly, are too proud or often too self-relient to apply for assistance because it is called "assistance" and that these people are often the most worthy of help? Would my right hon. Friend not consider making some change which would bring this section of the community to apply for assistance?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think that the name of the paying body has really much influence on decisions of this kind. I am reinforced in that view by the fact that the National Assistance Board has paid the non-contributory old-age pension now for twelve years without, as far as I know, any of the difficulty to which my hon. Friend refers arising. More important, the National Assistance Board and its officers have won tributes from both sides of the House for the humane and civilised way in which they do their job. It would be quite wrong, and something of a farce, to introduce legislation for the sole purpose of changing the nomenclature while leaving the functions unaffected.

Mr. Hall

While joining with my right hon. Friend in the tribute paid to the officers of the Board, may I point out that, however popular the initials N.A.B. might be in the House, the title "National Assistance Board" does repel people who are most worthy of being assisted? I have many examples in my constituency. Will my right hon. Friend look at the matter again?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

My hon. Friend will recall that the words "National Assistance" were themselves introduced some years ago to get rid of the ill-impression made by the older phrase "Outdoor Relief". I have gone into this matter very closely. I am in great sympathy with the object which my hon. Friend has in mind, since, like him, I would not wish to see any person entitled to assistance denied it by false considerations of names, but, after reflecting on this, I do not think that the introduction of legislation just to change the name of the Board would help in the slightest.