§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what account is taken, in operating the wage stop in respect of National Assistance in the Western Isles, of the fact that wages and earnings in certain occupations are substantially lower than in similar employment in industrial areas; and whether she will take steps to ensure that the appropriate national 98W wage and earnings levels are used as the criterion and not lower prevailing local levels.
§ Mr. PentlandThe Board is required by the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations to have regard for this purpose to a man's probable net earnings if he were employed full-time in his normal occupation. It must therefore base its estimates on the amount he can expect to earn in the locality in which he lives.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps are being taken to ensure that the value in the Western Isles of National Assistance and of pensions and other benefits and allowances is not allowed to fall below its average national value because of the higher cost of many necessities, including coal, bread, milk and local transport in the Islands.
§ Mr. PentlandThe rates of National Insurance benefits, like the rates of the contributions in return for which they are paid, apply equally to all parts of the country and do not vary from region to region. Similarly the National Assistance scale rates as laid down in the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations are the same for the whole country.