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75
Family with income per head of
10/. and upwards receive no assistance.
9/. to 10/. 75% is paid by applicant.
8/. to 9/. 50% „ „
7/. to 8/. 25% „ „
under 7/. Free.
As already mentioned, in arriving at the figures of income, the assistance
from every source is taken into account. After deduction of rent and insurances
in certain circumstances, such as where the family is a small one, it is obvious
that a family of three or a mother and a child may be receiving the 10/. per head,
and after deduction of rent and special expenses may be in so straitened circumstances
as to be unable to afford proper clothing and nourishment.
The mere fact that this assistance given under the Maternity and Child
Welfare Scheme is not by way of relief to the whole family, but is given for a
specific purpose, that is for the nourishment of a particular child or children, and
that the children are kept under observation by the Health Visitors is, in my\
opinion, a most usefid result in ensuring that the children are not partially starved
in numerous instances.
I will remind the Committee that it is well known, both to the Council and
to the Ministry of Health, that the Centres in this Borough are barely able to
cope with the .work they are carrying out, and that if every applicant for milk
is to attend a Centre to see the doctor it would mean the provision of more
Centres. The Ministry must know this fact, so that it is evident that this
suggestion is merely designed to keep down the number of applicants, apart
from their need. The deductions in grant, which are general throughout London,
are obviously made for the sole purpose of cutting down expenditure, apart
from the question of whether the expenditure is justifiable or otherwise.
G. H. Dart,
Medical Officer of Health.