§ Mr. R. J. Taylorasked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of unemployed in receipt of unemployment assistance in the Blyth area; how many received the winter increase; what was the total amount paid; and are any of the recipients still receiving the allowance?
§ Mr. E. BrownOn 17th January last, which is the latest date in respect of which information is available, the number of current assessments in the Board's administrative area of Blyth was 2,371. In 1,043 of these cases the assessment included a winter addition. The total amount paid by way of winter addition cannot be stated, but the average weekly value per case was approximately 2S. 2d. Winter additions as such have ceased to be payable, but, in certain cases in which a winter addition had previously been made, the Board's officers, in the exercise of their general discretionary powers, have maintained the previous allowance or have reduced it by less than the full amount of the previous addition.