§ LORD LLEWELLINMy Lords, I beg leave to ask to ask a question of which I have given private notice—namely, whether His Majesty's Government have examined the complaints arising out of the working of the Family Allowances Act and, if so, whether they can now state what action they propose to take.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, the answer is "Yes." We have carefully examined the position. All the new and expanded social service schemes must be considered as a co-ordinated whole, and most of the difficulties which have arisen out of the piecemeal introduction of parts of the schemes will be removed when the full schemes are in operation. In the meantime, the Assistance Board have been considering the position of children in families drawing supplementary pensions or unemployment assistance. That is the matter which has been principally under discussion. They have now submitted draft regulations embodying increases in their scale rates for children, which have been accepted by the Government, and it is proposed to lay these draft regulations before Parliament in the next day or two when copies will be made available to your Lordships in the Printed Paper Office.
§ LORD LLEWELLINI am obliged to the noble Lord. I gather that we are all under an obligation to the noble Chairman and the members of the Assistance Board.