§ Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of weekly grants to meet increased rents which have been made by the offices of the National Assistance 185W Board in the County of Lancashire and the total figure involved in the payment of such increased grants.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that figures are not available for the County of Lancashire, as seven of the 46 offices which serve areas in the geographical county also serve areas, which in some instances are considerable, outside it. In the areas served by those 46 offices, however, about 42,000 weekly assistance grants had been increased up to 8th February by an average of 5s. 7½d. to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. The Board is not able to give figures in respect of other rent increases nor, for reasons previously explained, to say what is the total expenditure on this account.