§ Mr. CLIMIEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the changes under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, if he is considering the issue of a scale of minimum payments that the new local authorities may make to able-bodied unemployed persons who are compelled to apply to the parish for relief?
Mr. W. ADAMSONI have no power to issue any scale of payments such as are suggested. The amount of relief to be granted is a matter within the discretion of the local Poor Law authority and should be determined by the circumstances of each individual case though in practice many authorities have found it convenient to give relief in accordance with a scale which they have adopted. If the relief granted to any applicant is inadequate he has a right of appeal to the Department of Health for Scotland who are then empowered to intervene if satisfied that the complaint is justified.