§ Mr. Buchananasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the city of Glasgow the Unemployment Assistance Board have refused to grant any increase in allowance to nearly all the single applicants; and whether he proposes any action to operate the cost-of-living circular which has been issued?
§ Mr. ButlerThe recent circular is being administered on the same basis in Glasgow City in relation to single applicants as elsewhere. The fact that a relatively small number of such applicants have received additions in Glasgow is due in the main, to the large number of applicants in lodgings already assessed at 17s., partly through the exercise of discretion under the regulations, and partly through the continuance of additions to assessments under the Standstill arrangements.
§ Mr. Buchananasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that at the present time the weather in Scotland is intensely cold and is causing great hardship among the applicants for unemployment assistance who, on the present allowances, are not able to provide the extra fuel required; and whether he is prepared, in view of this, to take any action?
§ Mr. ButlerThe coming of winter was one of the circumstances taken into account in the Board's recent instruction and I have no reason to believe that their1998W policy is not being duly applied in appropriate cases so as to obviate the hardship which the hon. Member has in mind.