§ 7. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that the latest increase in the cost-of-living index has already absorbed the increase in National Assistance scales; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo. The increases in the assistance scales announced on 28th November last were of the order of 6½ per cent. Changes in the interim index of retail prices published since that date show a rise of 1.6 per cent.