§ Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour what would be the cost per annum of abolishing the means test in the county of Durham and in the town of Jarrow, respectively?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 16th July to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) which explains why such figures cannot be given even for the country as a whole, and still less therefore for particular districts.
§ Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour, what is the total cost in the last complete year of administering public assistance under the paid commissioners of the county of Durham; and what was the administrative cost under the voluntary system in the last complete year of its existence?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe cost of administering transitional payments under the commissioners for the county of Durham for the year 1934 was approximately £47,700. I have no corresponding figure for the cost of administration by the Durham County Council before the commissioners were appointed; a sum of about £23,000 was repaid to the council in respect of additional expenses incurred by them during the year ended 30th November, 1932, in this connection. These figures are exclusive of the administrative expenses incurred direct by the Ministry at the Employment Exchanges and elsewhere, otherwise than for the purpose of the determination of need.