Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in assessing unemployment assistance the Ministry of Labur disregard dependants' pensions granted by the Ministry of Pensions; and whether he will instruct the three Service Departments to take similar action with regard to their payment of dependants' allowances?
§ Sir K. WoodI have been asked to reply. It is the case that the Assistance Board may within limits disregard Ministry of Pensions dependants' pensions in assessing need for unemployment assistance. The considerations governing the assessment of Service dependants' allowances are not identical with those relating to unemployment assistance. But cases in which operation of the present rules cause a. reduction in Service dependant's allowance on the award of a pension by the Ministry of Pensions are being specially considered.