§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to see that payment of wages during holidays granted as an act of grace by employers shall not be taken into account by the Unemployment Assistance Board in assessing needs where the recipient of those wages is a member of that family?
§ Mr. E. BrownThis is a matter for decision by the Unemployment Assistance Board within their statutory responsibilities. I am informed by the Board that under the ordinary rules governing the treatment of earnings in the assessment of need a substantial proportion, and indeed, sometimes the whole of earnings, is allowed for the personal requirements of the earner. The same allowances would be made in respect of wages received during holidays. The question whether these allowances should be increased during the holidays would be determined in the light of all the circumstances of the individual case, including any additional expenditure incurred by the earner during the holiday period.