§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the average rent allowance, for each respective region, paid to applicants for supplementary pensions; and what change of policy is envisaged in regard to the discretionary powers of area officers regarding the level of this type of allowance.
Mr. MacphersonAt the end of 1961 the average weekly amount of rent and rates paid by supplemented retirement pensioners in each of the administrative regions of the National Assistance Board, the areas of which are shown in a map in the Board's Report for 1961, were as follows:
Region Average amount s. d. Northern … 18 8 East and West Ridings … 17 8 North Midland … 18 8 London (North) … 25 2 London (South) … 26 3 South Western … 20 2 Midland … 19 5 North Western … 19 6 Wales … 17 0 Scotland … 16 1 As stated in the Report, the rent was being allowed in full in nearly 99 per cent. of the cases. The answer to the last part of the Question is "None".