HC Deb 14 November 1966 vol 736 cc22-3
42. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Social Security how many were in receipt of National Assistance benefit in South Shields at the latest available date; how many of these were unemployed or on sickness benefit; and in how many of these cases the National Assistance benefit is reduced by the wage stop procedure.

Mr. Pentland

Because of the detail necessarily involved, I will, with permission, circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Does my hon. Friend realise that there is growing anxiety about this position all over the country? While recognising that inquiries are being made, will he do his best to speed up a solution to the problem?

Mr. Pentland

Yes, Sir. As I said previously, we are fully aware of the problem.

Following is the reply:

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE POSITION AT 27TH SEPTEMBER, 1966, THE LATEST DATE FOR WHICH FIGURES CAN BE GIVEN FOR PERSONS RECEIVING SICKNESS BENEFIT OR AFFECTED BY THE WAGE STOP
National Assistance allowances in payment to:
All weekly National Assistance Unemployed Persons Persons receiving Sickness Benefit
allowances in payment Total Wage Stop Total Wage Stop(2)
7,418 578 38 610 5

  1. 1. The former South Shields Area Office or the National Assistance Board serves the County Borough of South Shields, and also about one-third of the Borough of Jarrow.
  2. 2. In addition to the 610 persons receiving national assistance in supplementation of sickness benefit on 27th September there were 492 sick or disabled persons who were not in receipt of insurance benefit. It is not known whether any of the five temporarily sick persons affected by the wage stop had no sickness benefit.
  3. 3. Some of the allowances provided for the needs of more than one person, e.g., man and wife.
  4. 4. At 25th October, 1966 there was a total of 7,553 weekly national assistance allowances in payment of which 655 were received by unemployed persons.