§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Labour what are the scales and method of determining the needs of official evacuees adopted by the Assistance Board in reception areas, and, in particular, what extra consideration is allowed for the 1842W abnormal nature of the households resulting from taking in the women and children evacuees?
§ Mr. E. BevinThe Assistance Board inform me that a person who has been evacuated under the official scheme is not regarded as a member of the household in which he or she is billeted. His or her needs are assessed under the Regulations, the assessment being suitably adjusted in the light of any special circumstances arising from the evacuation including the fact that the rent for the accommodation occupied by the applicant is being paid by the State. If, however, reference is intended to a case where a person is billeted on a man who is himself drawing an allowance the answer is that the billeting allowances are ignored in calculating his allowance. This practice coupled with the fact that the evacuee is not regarded as a member of his household is in all normal circumstances an adequate measure of consideration for any special circumstances arising from the presence of evacuees.