What are the criteria used in assessing the value of board and lodgings? When a young person becomes unemployed he might not be entitled to benefit but to assistance and the Department assess the value of board and lodgings. What criteria are used in that assessment of the board and lodgings?

The criterion is the actual income coming into the house. If it is above a certain limit the amount paid in assistance is accordingly reduced.

This is becoming a general discussion.

I do not think the Minister understands my point. Board and lodgings are assessed at, say, £20 or £25 a week because the person is living at home. In that situation the young person might be getting only £1 a day — I am referring particularly to my constituency — and it is most unfair to tell young people that they are worth only £1 a day because they are living at home with their parents.

The income going into the house must be considered.

If the applicant was not living at home he would get the full amount.

There is a built-in element of board and lodging and the household income is taken into account. If it is below a certain amount the person seeking assistance will get a higher weekly, rate but if it is above that limit he would get less. We are talking about social welfare assistance.

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