Summary of the provisions of the National Assistance Bill.

Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Summary of the provisions of the National Assistance Bill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    6 assistance payable is to be reduced by sixpence for every complete {25 after the first £50. In general, assistance will not be payable to persons who own unprotected capital to a value of more than £400. P Special provisions applicable to’ persons able to work 3 ~ 15. Able-bodied persons of working age form a very small proportion of the persons assisted under the existing schemes and are not expected to apply — in large numbers for National Assistance. In general, assistance 1s not to be granted to persons in full-time employment whether for themselves or their dependants. Assistance is also not ordinarily to be given to meet the needs — of a person engaged in a trade dispute in circumstances which would dis- — qualify him for unemployment benefit, but may be given to meet the needs — of his dependants. The question whether a person is so engaged in a trade dispute will be decided, on appeal, by the statutory authorities under the National Insurance Act, 1946. 16. When assistance is granted to able-bodied persons of working age it will usually be paid through the local office of the Ministry of Labour and ~ National Service and it will be a condition of payment that such persons should register for employment. 17. If an applicant, not being in receipt of unemployment benefit and therefore not subject to the relevant provisions of the National Insurance Act, refuses or neglects to maintain himself or his dependants, the case may be referred to the Appeal Tribunal. On a direction by the Tribunal the applicant may be required, asa condition of receiving an assistance grant, to attend a course of instruction or training approved by the Minister of National Insur- ance, or may in lieu of an assistance grant be provided with maintenance in a re-establishment centre. The Board are empowered, subject to the approval of the Minister, to provide such centres for any applicants who need re-estab- lishment because of lack of regular occupation, instruction or training. The — Board may also enter into arrangements with other Government Departments _ or voluntary organisations for the use of similar centres, and, during the first two years of the new services, with a Local Authority for an applicant to be accommodated in premises provided by the Authority. 18, Notwithstanding any disqualification or failure to comply with a con- — dition, assistance may be granted in an urgent case, but if granted to a person in full-time work may be recovered. Vagrants . - 19. Responsibility for the casual poor person or vagrant now rests on Local Authorities under the Poor Law. The Bill will transfer this respon-_ sibility to the Board by requiring them to make provision whereby persons without a settled way of living may be influenced to lead a more settled life and for their temporary accommodation in reception centres. Local Authori- ties may be required to provide and to maintain such centres on the Board’s behalf, with reimbursement of their approved expenditure. 3 ys 20. The steps that can be taken to influence a person to settle down will © naturally vary: for example, old and infirm persons may be induced to settle in a suitable Home (see paragraph 23 below); younger persons capable _ of work will be put in touch with opportunities of employment through the — local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service; and if such younger — persons are unfit for work through lack of regular occupation or instruction — or training, this may be provided for them in one of the re-establishment : fs centres already mentioned. | a . t
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