HC Deb 02 July 1941 vol 372 cc1368-9W
Mr. E. Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether he will set out in tabular form in the Official Report the administrative areas of the Assistance Board, giving for each area the number of applications made for supplementary pension, the number granted and the average payment made; and the total supplementary pensions paid before the Determination of Needs Act, the average payment made, the total paid now and the average amounts of the supplementary pensions?

Mr. E. Brown

I am informed by the Assistance Board that information is not available in the form asked for by my hon. Friend and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time necessitating the diversion of officers from the urgent task of dealing with fresh applications and reviewing existing cases, and thus causing delay to pensioners. The Board propose to submit a special report on the operation of the Act as soon as possible after the end of the year. This report will include all available statistical information though not necessarily in the form asked for by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether he will provide hon. Members who desire them with a copy of the instructions and circulars sent out by the Assistance Board to their local officers who are administering the Determination of Needs Act; is he aware that adjustments have been made in the rent allowance when employment has been secured at 5s. a week by applicants for a supplementary pension; and is that in accordance with the instructions?

Mr. Brown

It is not the practice for the executive directions given by Government Departments to their officers, which are frequently of a detailed and technical character, to be available in this way, and I do not think there is any sufficient reason for making an exception in this case. As regards the latter part of the Question, if ray hon. Friend will send me particulars of any case in which an adjustment such as he mentions has been made I shall be glad to have it examined.

Mr. Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire into the administration in the North Staffordshire area of the Determination of Needs Act with reference to old age supplementary pensions, which is not being administered in the form intended by Parliament?

Mr. Brown

I have been in touch with the Assistance Board and find no grounds for my hon. Friend's suggestion that the Act is not being properly administered in the; area named. I would remind him that under the Act it is open to any person who is aggrieved by an officer's decision to apply for leave to appeal to an independent tribunal, and the chairman of the tribunal is bound to give leave to appeal if it appears that there is reason to doubt whether the case has been dealt with in accordance with the Regulations.