HC Deb 10 February 1958 vol 582 cc1-3W
23. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what weekly increase in National Assistance expenditure has taken place in Wales due to higher rent charges imposed under the what redundancy now exists, and why it has occurred.

Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter

In common with all offices of my Department the duties, numbers and grades of these staffs are kept under constant review in the light of the needs of the work. I expect that by the end of March, 1958, the decrease in the volume of the work in the National Insurance Office and in the War Pensions Office at Aberdeen will permit a reduction of two in the staffs of each office.

The following are the figures:

Rent Act, 1957; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Up to 18th January about 12,000 weekly Assistance grants in Wales had been increased by 5s. a week on average to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. I explained to the hon. Member in reply to his Question on 18th November last why it is not possible to calculate the additional expenditure on this account.

24. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the amount of National Assistance granted for special clothes allowance and for nourishment, respectively, in Wales during the years 1955, 1956, and 1957 separately.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The National Assistance Board informs me that during 1955, 1956 and 1957, grants totalling £62,597, £58,027 and £56,148, respectively, were made in Wales to meet exceptional needs, mostly but not entirely for clothing. Information about additional allowances included in weekly grants to provide for special diets or other special needs is obtained annually on the basis of a sample examination of cases. It is

NUMBER OF WEEKLY ASSISTANCE GRANTS AT DATES TOWARDS THE END OF EACH MONTH, FROM OCTOBER, 1951, TO JANUARY, 1958, IN THE AREA SERVED BY THE NATIONAL ASSISTANCE BOARD'S GLASGOW (ANDERSTON) AREA OFFICE
— 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958
January … 6,049 5,854 6,157 6,207 4,565 4,704 4,698
February … 6,095 5,936 6,186 6,249 4,588 4,693
March … 5,875 6,018 6,123 6,291 4,529 4,744
April … 5,768 5,973 5,955 5,977 4,523 4,674
May … 5,735 5,944 6,101 4,948 4,463 4,614
June … 5,696 5,944 6,135 4,868 4,329 4,533
July … 5,763 5,960 6,098 4,685 4,372 4,586
August … 5,660 5,961 6,079 4,583 4,486 4,563
September … 5,724 5,913 6,080 4,466 4,431 4,498
October … 5,624 5,812 5,915 6,097 4,488 4,544 4,618
November … 5,717 5,850 6,073 6,115 4,469 4,583 4,658
December … 5,862 5,873 6,064 6,152 4,531 4,573 4,779