HC Deb 27 February 1961 vol 635 c1180
26. Mr. Ross

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will estimate the number of persons presently in receipt of National Assistance supplement to National Insurance benefits who will fail to qualify for supplement when benefits and scales are adjusted in April.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

About 30,000.

Mr. Ross

Does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that these people will be subjected to the clumsy and, to his Ministry, costly procedure of applying for a refund? Cannot he think of a way of simplifying matters in respect of people whom he knows will be on the borderline?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If some of these 30,000 should find it necessary in the near future to make application, it would seem that in a good many cases the Board, as they had recently been on its books, would have particulars about them which would obviate a great deal of work.

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