§ Sir R. ASKEasked the Minister of Labour whether the new scale for transitional payments recently adopted by the local authority in Newcastle-on-Tyne has been put into operation, or whether any conclusions have been arrived at for bringing the scale previously in force more into line with that of surrounding areas, as discussed at the recent conferences of public assistance authorities?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, I understand from my right hon. Friend that considerable progress has been made in the discussion among the public assistance authorities in the area which aims at securing some greater uniformity in the public assistance scales for the area.