HC Deb 28 November 1966 vol 737 cc6-8
9. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Social Security when she will publish the main findings of her survey of family circumstances.

22. Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Social Security when her department's special survey of the needs of poor families will be published.

23. Mr. Robert Davies

asked the Minister of Social Security when she will publish the results of her study of poverty among the families of lower wage earners; and whether in the meantime she will suspend the wage-stop provisions for National Assistance over the Christmas period.

Miss Herbison

I hope to be able to publish a full report on this inquiry in the late spring of next year.

As regards the wage-stop provisions, I appreciate the motive behind my hon. Friends' suggestion, but I cannot accept it, because, while it would give a Christmas bonus to some families, it would do nothing for the much larger number who are no better off but where the father is working.

Mr. Blenkinsop

I welcome my right hon. Friend's great personal interest in this long-standing problem, but can she do nothing to speed up this report, as the inquiry was carried out in June and, with some effort, it might be possible to have at least some interim information before the date she suggests?

Miss Herbison

We already have some interim information from it. This inquiry inquired not only into the financial circumstances of these families but into many of the social matters which are of great importance. I understand that my hon. Friend wishes there to be an interim report soon so that we may come to a decision on family endowment. I assure him that the Committee which is dealing with this matter already has the interim information.

Mr. Lubbock

If as a result of this survey the right hon. Lady decides that some of the money which is at present used in granting Income Tax and Surtax concessions to families with large numbers of children should be used instead to increase family allowances, this will have to be done through the Budget. As the answer which she has given means that it cannot be done before 1968 at the earliest, could not she speed up preparation of the report?

Miss Herbison

If the hon. Gentleman had listened to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend, he would realise that what he has said is just not the case.

Mr. Hooley

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is urgent to remedy the impact of the wage-stop on families living below social security levels of subsistence?

Miss Herbison

It is urgent, of course, but it is just as urgent to help the great number of families in which the father is in full-time work but earning less than the supplementary benefit scales.

Mr. Shinwell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in spite of all that has been done over the years by way of pensions, National Assistance and the like, there is in this country a vast amount of poverty and, indeed, there seems to be a greater disparity between rich and poor now than we have had for many years? Will she seek to expedite this inquiry, as this Government are pledged to remove poverty?

Miss Herbison

I agree very much with what my right hon. Friend has said, and I have time and again let hon. Members know how deeply concerned I am, particularly for the children who are deprived. I assure him that we are pushing on as quickly as possible in trying to find a solution to this problem.