§ 79. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of cases in the area of the Borough of Gateshead where National Assistance officers have advised tenants applying for assistance to meet rent increases under the Rent Act, 1957, to take statutory remedies regarding disrepair.
§ 82. Mrs. L. Jegerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how far, before assistance grants are increased to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act, investigation is made to ensure that the property in question is ineligible for a certificate of disrepair.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt is no part of the responsibility of the Board's officers to decide questions concerning certificates of disrepair; that is a matter for the local authority on application being made to them. The Board's officers do however take note in the course of their visits of cases where serious defects in the state of the accommodation are obvious and advise tenants where necessary about the completion of Form G and any subsequent steps.
§ 83. Mr. Boyleasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in how many cases in the City of Salford the National Assistance Board has found it necessary to increase the rent supplements paid to recipients of National Assistance in consequence of the operation of the Rent Act, 1957; and what is the additional cost to the National Assistance Board with the average of the individual's supplement.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that in the two14W offices concerned, which cover an area extending beyond the county borough, 2,510 weekly assistance grants had been increased up to 8th February, by an average of 5s. 9d., to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. For reasons of which the hon. Gentleman will be aware it is not possible for the Board to calculate the total additional expenditure on this account.
§ Mr. Championasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many weekly grants have been increased by the National Assistance Board in the areas served by the four offices covering part of the County of Derbyshire and the eight offices which also serve areas outside the County, as a result of the operation of the Rent Act, 1957; and how much of the Supplementary Estimate of £4,600,000 required by the Assistance Board in the year ending the 31st March, 1958, is for the purpose of meeting such increase.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that in the areas referred to 8,411 weekly assistance grants had been increased up to 8th February, by an average of 5s. 3½d., to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. As regards the latter part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend said on this subject on 17th February in the debate on the Board's Supplementary Estimate for the current financial year.
§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of people in Slough and district who are in receipt of increased National Assistance benefit to meet increases in rent under the Rent Act, 1957.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that the figures available relate to the whole of the area served by the Board's office in Slough, which as the hon. Member is no doubt aware extends considerably beyond the town. In that area 562 weekly assistance grants had been increased up to 8th February to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. It is not known how many of the persons concerned have since ceased to receive assistance.
§ Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons in receipt of National 15W Assistance covered by his offices in the Gateshead Borough who have received assistance arising from the operation of the Rent Act, 1957; the total amount of the assistance given to date to this number; what percentage of the total are receiving assistance in respect of rent increases; and what percentage receiving assistance in respect of rent increases are old-age pensioners.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that up to 8th February 2,765 weekly assistance grants in the area served by the two offices situated in Gateshead had been increased, by an average of 5s. 4d., to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. For reasons previously given it is not possible for the Board to calculate the total additional expenditure on this account. The number given is equivalent to about 35 per cent. of the total number of current weekly grants, but as it is a cumulative figure it in fact bears no relationship to the current number of recipients of National Assistance. The number of retirement pensioners in the total is not available.