HC Deb 09 December 1943 vol 395 cc1151-2W
Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Minister of Health whether the amount of rent in excess of the reasonable rent figure is allowed in cases in which old age pensioners are in recepit of amounts which are required by statutory provisions for the purposes of calculating scale allowances?

Mr. Willink

The Assistance Board's practice in this matter, as explained in their report on the Determination of Needs Act, 1941 (Cmd. 6338), is to make an allowance for rent in excess of the limit recommended by the local advisory committee in cases where failure to do so would cause hardship by leaving the applicant with insufficient money to meet his other needs. Whether an additional allowance would be made in a particular case of the kind referred to, must therefore depend on the nature and extent of the resources, the amount of the rent and all the other circumstances of the case.

Mr. Edwards

asked the Minister of Health the average weekly amounts paid in supplementary pensions per case, in August, 1940, August, 1941, August, 1942 and August, 1943, for England and Wales and Scotland respectively?

Mr. Willink

The approximate average weekly amounts paid in supplementary pensions per case for England and Wales together were as follows: August, 1940, 8s. 9d.; August, 1941, 9s. 6d.; August, 1942, 11s. 2d.; August, 1943, 12S. 9d. The corresponding amounts for Scotland were 8s. 8d., 8s. 10d., 10s. 3d. and 12s.

Mr. Edwards

asked the Minister of Health the reasonable rent figures for two old age pensioners in the districts covering Manchester, Wigan, Stoke, Leigh, Wrexham, London, Bournemouth, Oxford, Swansea, Bridgend, Dundee, Stirling and Newport, respectively?

Mr. Willink

Following is the answer:

Figure recommended by local advisory committee
Manchester 8s.
plus half the excess or 2s. whichever is greater
Wigan 8s.
Stoke 8s.
Leigh 8s.
Wrexham 8s.
London—
E. and N.E. 10s. 6d.
Elsewhere 11s. 6d.
Bournemouth 8s.
Oxford 8s.
Swansea 9s.
Bridgend 9s.
Dundee 8s.
Stirling 8s.
Newport 9s. plus excess if rent is reasonable

As stated in the White Paper (Cmd. 6490) issued with the new Draft Regulations, the Board propose to consult the Advisory Committees again on this subject.