§ 10 and 11. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) the total of grants for supplementary pensions in the constituency of Gorton, according to the latest figures available; and what was the amount at the latest date before the coming into operation of the Rent Act;
(2) how many old-age pensioners in the constituency of Gorton are in receipt of supplementary grants from the National Assistance Board according to the latest available figures; and what were the numbers receiving such grants at the latest date before the coming into operation of the Rent Act.
§ Miss PittThe National Assistance Board regrets that it is unable to give figures for the constituency of Gorton, or for an area approximating to it, as the constituency is served by no fewer than136W four offices which also between them serve a much larger area outside the constituency.
§ 13. Mr. Parkinasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many old-age pensioners in the Paddington area are in receipt of supplementary grants from the National Assistance Board; and by how much the money total of these grants has increased since the coming into operation of the Rent Act.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that the borough of Paddington is served by two of the Board's offices, one of which serves also the Borough of St. Marylebone. In the office covering about three quarters of the Borough of Paddington 1,966 retirement pensioners and 204 noncontributory old-age pensioners were receiving weekly National Assistance grants on 16th December last. Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner. Information about the cost of Assistance is not available for particular localities.
§ 14. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give the number of persons in receipt of National Assistance, and the total amounts received, in the week preceding the introduction of the Rent Act, and at the latest convenient stated date.
§ Miss PittI am informed by the National Assistance Board that the number of weekly National Assistance grants on 25th June, 1957, the nearest date for which figures are available before the Rent Act came into force, was 1,668,000 and that on 16th December last it was 1,649,000. Information about total expenditure on National Assistance is not available for weekly periods.