§ Mr. H. Nichollsasked the Minister of National Insurance the number of pensioners receiving supplementary pensions at the Assistance Board Office in Romford Road, West Ham; how many of these are receiving discretionary allowances over and above the scales; and what is the highest and lowest amount of such allowances at present paid.
§ Mr. SteeleThe number of supplementary pension cases current at the West Ham office of the Assistance Board on 3oth January, 1948, was 2,937. As, however, one supplementary pension is usually paid in the case of a married couple, the number of pensioners whose needs were included was about 3,470. At the latest dates for which the information is available discretionary additions to the normal scale rates were being made in about 40 per cent. of the cases, the highest addition being 13s. 6d. and the lowest 9d. a week. In addition between July, 1947, and January, 1948, grants for clothing, etc., amounting to more than £1,700, were made in 960 cases.