§ Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why a Cardiff man, about whom details have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West, is to receive only 1s. a week increase as a consequence of the recent amendment to the National Assistance Regulations; and whether he will make a statement concerning increases for persons whose need was proved to be above the scale rate of assistance prior to the recent increase.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe case is one of those to which paragraph 6 of the Explanatory Memorandum (Cmnd. 1198) laid with the National Assistance 19W Amendment Regulations, 1960, refers. The Board tells me that the income of the person concerned has already been brought substantially above the basic rate to enable him to meet an inclusive board and lodging charge and that it is the amount of the discretionary allowance for personal expenses which, in this and similar cases, is now being raised from 17s. to 18s. a week. I am writing to the hon. Member about the particular case.