§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the present discrimination in lodging allowances paid for transferred employees who stay with relatives on a paying basis, and those who make similar payments for board and lodging to non-relatives.
§ Mr. Golding:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, under the employment transfer scheme, a disturbance allowance is available to workers, without dependants, who transfer from assisted areas to take up employment. It is not payable to a worker who stays with a mother, father, sister, brother or other close relative to whom the worker would look for support. Disturbance allowance is not paid to cover the cost of lodgings but as an incentive for workers to move away from home. Where 141W accommodation is provided by a close relative a financial incentive to move is not considered necessary. Although the Manpower Services Commission is at present reviewing the operation of the employment transfer scheme, it has no plans to extend the scope of the disturbance allowance to include workers who stay with close relatives.