§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of National Insurance if his attention has been called to paragraphs 85 and 86 on page xxxi of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General in the Civil Appropriation Accounts, 1951–52, which points out that a certain number of people are receiving double payment, one from the National Assistance Board and one from the employer; and what steps he is taking to rectify this waste of public money.
§ Mr. PeakeAs the Board have pointed out in their annual reports, the expenditure to which my hon. Friend refers arises from the industrial practice of holding wages in hand and would be avoided if the minority of employers who at present adhere rigidly to this practice would be prepared to make advances where necessary.
Following discussions in October at the National Joint Advisory Council, the British Employers' Confederation, whose 92W help I wish to acknowledge, have drawn the attention of their constituent bodies to this matter and the Board hope that with the co-operation of employers the problem will soon be reduced to small dimensions.