HC Deb 21 September 1948 vol 456 cc76-7W
115. Sir H. Morris-Jones

asked the Minister of National Insurance under what authority and what regulation the Area Assistance Board Office at Rhyl, N. Wales, have sent an inquiry to the Secretary of the British Legion branch at Colwyn Bay to find out whether an ex-Service man applying for assistance to the Area Board had received groceries from the British Legion branch; and whether in future the Assistance Board will refrain from making inquiries in cases of this nature.

Mr. J. Griffiths

The applicant himself informed the Board that he was receiving some help from the British Legion. Assistance grants must, by law, be related to need and the inquiry was properly made to find out for what period help from the Legion was continuing in order to determine precisely what assistance was needed. I should add that it is the Board's practice to disregard grants of a voluntary or charitable nature to the extent of the first 10s. 6d. a week; in this case the entire value of the help given by the Legion was disregarded.