§ 100. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, taking the cost-of-living index as 153, he will increase the basic rate of public assistance by the amount of any increase on this figure.
§ Miss PittNo. In any event the Statute places the responsibility for initiating changes in the scales of assistance on the National Assistance Board and it has never been the practice to alter the scales of National Assistance by reference to minor or temporary fluctuations in the Index of Retail Prices. As the hon. Member will be aware, the higher scales which came into effect on 23rd January provided a margin of purchasing power over that of the original scales of Assistance.