§ 5. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish an inquiry into the operation of supplementary benefit tribunals.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Paul Dean)The constitution and working of these tribunals are kept under review by the Council on Tribunals under the provisions of Section 1 of the Tribunal and Inquiries Act, 1958.
§ Mr. DavisDoes the hon. Gentleman hope that, by reason of the instructions recently given to the Supplementary Benefits Commission about evidence given to tribunals involving cases of cohabitation, there will be an end to the unpleasant snooping and prying which has taken place in such cases? Hearsay evidence has been admitted, to the detriment of women applicants, and many women have been deprived of benefits on the say-so of other people in circumstances where there has been no substantial evidence that the woman is receiving any help from the man with whom she is alleged to be cohabiting. Does he not consider this matter to be worthy of further inquiry?
§ Mr. DeanThis is a difficult and delicate area in which officials have to draw a balance between providing prompt help for those who are entitled to it and, at the same time, seeing that the arrangements are not abused.