LORD SALTOUNasked His Majesty's Government whether, in the event of adequate relief being denied to an applicant by the Assistance Board, an action is open to the aggrieved party, and against whom; or whether the right has been defeated by recent legislation.
§ LORD KERSHAWIf the noble Lord is referring to the possible right to proceed by way of indictment at Common Law against a local authority or relieving520WA officer, the position is that, by reason of the transfer of the duty to relieve distress to departments of the Crown, no analogous right now exists. Any applicant for National Assistance who is aggrieved by a decision of an officer of the Board refusing him assistance, or granting him less assistance than he thinks is payable in accordance with the regulations approved by Parliament, is entitled to appeal to an independent appeal tribunal established under the National Assistance Act.
House adjourned at sixteen minutes before seven o'clock.