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29
agreed that the gap between standard benefit and the expenditure
regarded as necessary for health widens with each additional child
in the family. The members of the Council are probably aware of
the amounts which are paid. The standard benefit for husband and
wife is 26/- a week, rising by an additional 3/- for each child under
14 years of age; thus, 29/- one child; 32/- 2 children; and 41/5
children.
The scale of the Unemployment Assistance Board is different
and takes into consideration the ages of the children and the amount
of rent paid. Frequently, especially when some of the children are
over five years of age, families without resources are better off under
the Unemployment Assistance Board than on standard benefits.
This discrepancy in favour of the scale of the Unemployment
Assistance Board has been extended since the circular which
authorised the Board's officers to grant additional allowances to
households in view of the increased cost of living. In cases where
unemployment benefit falls as far below the needs of families as
to inflict obvious and serious hardship, the unemployed on standard
benefit can no longer obtain relief from the Public Assistance Committee.
They can, however, apply for supplementary assistance to
the Board, but our experience is, that they very seldom do seek that
assistance. Even in the Council flats, the usual rent for a living
room, scullery and two bedrooms is between 12/- and 13/- a week;
there is one flat of this type let at 9/5 and four are let at 11/1.
The Council flats with accommodation of living room, scullery and
three bedrooms let at 13/5, 14/11 and 15/2 a week.
The rents for Council flats and houses are much lower than
those paid for decontrolled lettings as the following instances of
actual cases recently brought to our notice show. They are taken
at random from applications for free milk.
Standard benefits 29/-; rents 15/-, 16/6, 17/6.
Standard benefits 32/-; rents 15/-, 16/-, 18/-.
Standard benefits 38,/ -; rent 20/-.