§ 58. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the average National Assistance of 12s. 11d. per week paid to the 164,000 owner-occupiers for the year 1959 covered both the rates and the interest charges in total, that is, the interest on loan and repayment of capital in respect of the loans for the house.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe figure of 12s. 11d. a week shown in the Report of the National Assistance Board for 1959 as the average amount of the outgoings on owner-occupied houses belonging to recipients of assistance, includes, as explained in the footnote on page 16, rates and an allowance for repairs and for any mortgage interest.
§ 59. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number of persons receiving National Insurance benefits in December, 1959, who also received National Assistance at the same time; and to what extent this figure is greater than any comparable figures during the 12-year period of National Assistance with the exception of the year 1959.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to Appendix II of the Report of the National Assistance Board for 1959 which I presented to Parliament on 5th July. This gives figures for July, 1948, and each December thereafter.