§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Health what instructions, if any, he has issued to his inspectors and to public 529W auditors in connection with Poor Law relief to persons in receipt of national health insurance benefit; and whether he is aware that his officers and certain auditors are forcing boards of guardians to take into account health insurance benefits when assessing out-door relief, despite the fact that the Insurance Acts expressly provide that boards of guardians shall not take health insurance payments into account when assessing the need of applicants for Poor Law assistance?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend has given no instructions of the kind suggested in the first part of the question. The answer to the second part is in the negative. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that boards of guardians are only precluded from taking into account health insurance benefits up to 7s. 6d. a week.