§ 3. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will rectify the anomaly whereby, although old age pensioners are allowed to earn £1 a week and still receive supplementary Assistance, the railwayman who draws a pension of £1 a week in addition to his old age pension is debarred from receiving supplementary Assistance.
§ Mr. PeakeI see no anomaly in the rule established in 1948 under which the earnings of retired people are treated more favourably than superannuation for purposes of Assistance. But whether in either case Assistance will be payable will depend on the pensioner's other circumstances.
5. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of National Insurance what provision the National Assistance Board make for old age pensioners to receive Assistance towards chiropody treatment or for allowances towards conveyance to recognised clinics for such treatment.
§ Mr. PeakeThe National Assistance Act precludes the Board from making grants for these purposes.
§ 9. Mr. Ewartasked the Minister of National Insurance the number of persons in Sunderland who are in receipt of unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, or retirement pensions and are receiving supplementary allowances from the Assistance Board.
§ Mr. PeakeAbout 8,400 recipients of unemployment or sickness benefit or retirement pension are receiving regular weekly grants of National Assistance from the Board's three offices in Sunderland, the areas of which, however, extend beyond the boundaries of the Sunderland County Borough.