asked the Minister of National Insurance to what extent the present Regulations administered by the National Assistance Board allow of discretionary payments being made in cases of special hardship arising out of the increased cost of living.

The Regulations provide that where there are special circumstances the amount calculated in accordance with the rules set out in the schedule to the Regulations may be adjusted as may be appropriate to meet those circumstances. As is shown in the Board's Annual Report for 1948 (Cmd. 7767). extensive use is made of these powers in individual cases where there are abnormal expenses, but the powers would not enable allowances in excess of the rates approved by Parliament to be paid to applicants in general.