§ Major Procterasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Lancashire County Council last Monday, by a majority vote, decided to cease the practice of allowing relieving officers to deliver weekly relief at homes, and now require recipients to go to the relieving offices for payment in Accrington, Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Bacup and other towns, thus compelling recipients to queue up outside the relieving offices and publicly expose their poverty; and whether his Department will discountenance this policy?
§ Miss HorsbrughMy right hon. Friend is aware of the decision referred to, which extends to the towns mentioned the system payment which is already in operation in other parts of the county. He is informed that the object is to ease the pressure on the relief staff, and that recipients will be instructed to attend at specified times so as to avoid queues. My right hon. Friend would, therefore, not feel justified in view of the pressing demands on the relief staff in connection with war-time services in interfering with the decision of the council.