§ Mr. Higginsasked the Minister of Penions and National Insurance on what assumptions regarding the number of people eligible for National Assistance and the amounts they will be paid her estimates of the total cost of increasing national assistance rates were based.
§ Mr. PentlandThe estimate of the cost of the proposed increases in National Assistance rates given in the Explanatory Memorandum (Cmnd. 2522) published with the draft National Assistance (Determination of Need) Amendment Regulations, 1964, is, as stated in the memorandum, related to existing cases. As for assumptions about future numbers, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8th December.