§ 2. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance approximately how many cases there are similar to the one sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth, where National Assistance has been increased by 6d. 6d. per week merely because hire-purchase interest was found to be charged at 21 per cent. instead of the assumed 10 per cent.; and if he will make a statement on the steps he proposes to take to stop these unjustifiably high interest rates being paid from public funds.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have written to my hon. Friend expressing the regret of the National Assistance Board that he was given an inaccurate account of this matter with reference, among other things, to the rate of interest involved. I know of no similar case, and in the circumstances I do not think the last part of my hon. Friend's question now arises.
§ 3. Mr. H. Butlerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the average increase in National Assistance granted to meet increases of rent under the Rent Act, 1957, to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am informed by the National Assistance Board that up to 29th March—the latest date for which figures are available—277,000 weekly assistance grants had been increased by an average of 5s. 3d. to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act, 1957. It is not, however, known how many of the recipients of these grants are still receiving assistance.