H—llA

545. The duration of individual engagements of Aids for the 300 cases set out in the above table was as follows : Under one week .. .. .. .. .. .. 225 One week and under two weeks .. .. .. 25 Two weeks and under three weeks .. .. .. 21 Three weeks and over .. .. .. .. 29 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 300 546. It will be seen, therefore, that the very large majority of engagements were for a period of less than one full week. This tendency was due to some extent, however, to the limited number of Aids that was available in the early stages of the Service, as a result of which, in order to give a measure of service to as many deserving applicants as possible, it was not always possible to allocate an Aid for the full period applied for. 547. Reference has been made in the conditions of the scheme as outlined above to the fact that, where an applicant is unable to meet the full charge made for the services of a Home Aid, a reduction in the charge may be granted according to the financial circumstances of the applicant. In this connection, the applications approved by the Department up to 31st March, 1946, are set out as follows

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Amount of Reduction. Number of Applications approvedDecember and January. February. March. Under £1 per week 1 4 5 £1 and under £2 per week 6 10 £2 and under £3 per week "i 8 6 £3 and up to £3 10s. per week 3 1