HC Deb 26 January 1953 vol 510 cc70-1W
54. Mr. Carmichael

asked the Minister of National Insurance the increase in the number of applicants in receipt of National Assistance; the average number of domiciliary visits per week; the number of callers on the area offices of the board each week on 1st September in the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952; and the staff attending to those duties during the said years.

Mr. Turton

The reply is as follows:

55. Mr. Carmichael

asked the Minister of National Insurance what additional staff was allocated to enable the National Assistance Board to cope with applications for legal aid in England, Wales and Scotland: and the work arising from the charges for dentures, optical treatment, surgical aids and prescriptions and for the payment of fares to patients attending hospital.

Mr. Turton

Except for special arrangements in a few places about legal aid, all this work is dealt with as part of the normal work of the Board's area offices and though taken into account in deciding what total staff is needed separate staff is not specifically allocated to it.