§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Labour whether the standard of the family of normal composition referred to in the instruction issued by the Unemployment Assistance Board is based upon the composition of the average family in the country or to the average number of dependants upon married claimants for unemployment assistance?
§ Mr. ButlerIt is difficult to be more precise than in the answer furnished1712W to the hon. Member in reply to his question on 22nd November. The expression, household of normal size and composition, is given a reasonable application by the officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board by whom it is well understood.
§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Labour whether he can inform the House as to the number of cases to date within the present year in which the Unemployment Assistance Board has exceeded the normal allowance due to special circumstances?
§ Mr. ButlerInformation is not available to show the aggregate number of determinations made in the current year which include discretionary increases over the amounts calculated strictly in accordance with the scale and rules laid down in the Board's regulations. But as stated in the Board's annual report for 1936 the number of such cases current at the end of that year was about 115,000.
§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Labour to what commodities, and the measure of their increased prices, may be attributable the increased allowances recommended by the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 22nd November.