But there will be decreases also. In the first five
months after the regulations are applied, reductions will be made in allowances to some 60,000 people, con- sisting of single persons under 25 and of those who have enjoyed " grossly excessive allowances." Over a period of 18 months, further reductions will be made, but the total of reductions will be less than that of increases. But it seems likely that the reductions may be concen- trated in particular areas, especially in some of the de- pressed areas. If this is so, the Government may yet have to face a new storm of discontent, but the terms of the . amendment to be proposed by Labour in the debate next week are surprisingly moderate. It is extremely difficult to know how much hardship will be involved in the new regulations until they are actually put into effect in November ; the new Local Advisory Com- mittees should be of great assistance to the Board in adapting its rules to particular local conditions.
