§ 29. Mr. Houghtonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the nature of the reply made by the National Assistance Board to the representations sent to them from recipients of National Assistance whose net increase in income is less than the increases being given to National Insurance beneficiaries from April next.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhile I do not know what particular representations the hon. Member has in mind, I have little doubt that in any reply on this subject which the Board has sent, it has drawn attention to the fact that when account is taken of the increase in National Assistance scale rates, etc., in September, 1959, the increase above the January, 1958, level in April next in the income of a person receiving National Assistance will, other things being equal, be somewhat higher than in the case of a person in receipt only of National Insurance benefits.
§ Mr. HoughtonThe representations I have received have been complaints that the increases are not enough. In reply I have said that I agree with them and they are not enough. I thought the National Assistance Board might have thought of the same answer.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Gentleman's Question related to representations made not to him, but to the National Assistance Board.