HC Deb 14 November 1966 vol 736 cc19-20
34. Mr. Winnick

asked the Minister of Social Security how many people in 1964, 1965, and so far in 1966, received less National Assistance than that to which they were entitled due to the fact that they were affected by the wage standstill regulation.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Security (Mr. Norman Pentland)

At the end of September 1966, 12,817 unemployed persons were affected in this way. The figures for September 1965 and 1964 were 14,839 and 13,127, respectively.

Mr. Winnick

Does this not prove the suffering, especially to children, caused by this regulation? May I ask the Minister whether it is not time we did away with this penalising of the poor, under what is basically a Tory regulation?

Mr. Pentland

I take my hon. Friend's point, but, as he will know, the Government are looking into this question of the wage stop very carefully, and into the whole question of poverty among the families of the lower wage earners.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Does this helpful Question from the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend not bring out again the contrast between those previous pronouncements by the party opposite and present performance?

Mr. Pentland

No, not at all. The whole record is there for all to see. What we are doing is something which has never been done before under the previous Administration. We are looking into this matter and into the regulations, and into the whole question of the poverty of families of the lower wage earners.

Mr. Donnelly

I ask my hon. Friend to forgive my ignorance, but can he explain to me why they do not receive this money?

Mr. Pentland

I am sorry, I did not quite catch that.

Mr. Donnelly

Why do they not receive it?

Mr. Pentland

Because it is a principle that no one can receive more social security supplementary benefit than he receives in wages.