§ 28. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will review the operation of the discretionary allowance for those in receipt of supplementary allowance.
§ Mr. LoughlinThe Supplementary Benefits Commission, whose responsibility this is, is keeping it under continuous watch and review.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWhile welcoming that reply, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he agrees that in the course of the development of the scheme it has been shown that there is not quite the same amount of discretion in the hands of local officials as perhaps in the past and that this results in some very unfortunate decisions?
§ Mr. LoughlinI do not think that it results in too many unfortunate decisions. The new construction of supplementary benefits is in favour of the recipient. I know that my hon. Friend has a case of this kind in mind, and I am shortly writing to him about the details of that case.