§ Mr. Malcolm MacPhersonasked the Minister of National Insurance the total numbers in receipt of benefit from the National Assistance Board at the latest convenient date; and what were the respective numbers at the corresponding dates each year since the inception of the Board.
§ Mr. PeakeThe figures asked for are as follows:
Number of persons receiving regular weekly grants of National Assistance At 30th June, 1953 … … 1,693,636 Corresponding figures for earlier years— June, 1952 … … 1,535,591 June, 1951 … … 1,390,291 June, 1950 … … 1,225,511 June, 1949 … … 1,094,514 *July, 1948 … … 842,304 The foregoing grants made provision in many cases for the needs of wives, children or other dependants as well as the needs of the persons receiving the grants. * Following completion of the transfer of cases under the National Assistance Act, 1948, from local Public Assistance Authorities.