§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether, in view of the promise given to the House that the Statutory Committee would take over the payment of supplementary rent allowances from the National Relief Fund, he will explain why in many cases the Grant has been taken away or reduced by the local war pensions committees?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI do not know what the precise promise is to which my hon. Friend refers. As he is no doubt aware, when the Statutory Committee assumed responsibility for the payment of supplementary rent allowances, these allowances became subject to the Regulations under the Act. The Regulations followed generally the lines laid down by the National Relief Fund, but there may have been cases in which allowances were being made in excess of those contemplated by the fund and by the Regulations, and of the pre-war income of the household. Local committees were instructed to review the allowances previously granted by the voluntary societies with a view of bringing them into harmony with the requirements of the Regulations, but the Statutory Committee are desirous that any cases of the kind should be dealt with in such manner as to avoid hardship.
§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he can state the nature of the inquiry which the Fabian Society is conducting for the Statutory Committee?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI am not aware, Sir, that any inquiry is being conducted by the Fabian Society for the Statutory Committee.