§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken on recommendations 171, 175 and 177 of the Finer Report on one-parent families.
§ Mr. OrmeRecommendation 171 was that the question of the Supplementary Benefit Commission's meeting mortgage capital repayments should be explored. The Finer Committee did not itself form a view about this. The question has been considered, but it is unlikely to rank high in any list of priorities for additional public expenditure on social security benefits. The need to ensure adequate provision of furniture, with which recommendations 175 and 177 are concerned, is referred to in a draft circular to local authorities on housing for one-parent families on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is seeking the views of the local authority associations.