Mr. Mothersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many widows in Scotland have been taken over by the Assistance Board; how many of these have received increased allowance and to what extent; and how many widows still catered for by public assistance committees have had increases consequent upon the passing of the Pensions and Determination of Needs Act?
Mr. JohnstonUp to 24th September, 1943, supplementary pensions had been granted to 3,263 widows under 60 in Scotland, of whom 1,910 had been receiving outdoor relief from the public assistance authorities. I regret that information as to the extent of increased allowances in these cases is not available without disproportionate expenditure of time and labour in enquiries. As the provisions of the Pensions and Determination of Needs Act, 1943, relating to outdoor public assistance are to operate from 1st November, 1943, the last part of the Question does not at present arise.