HC Deb 10 December 1974 vol 883 cc221-2
10. Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will make a statement on the progress made so far with the Supplementary Benefits Commission's experimental exercise in issuing to some new claimants for supplementary benefit a precise statement of how their benefit is calculated.

Mr. Alec Jones

The experiment began in 19 offices on 9th October and is expected to continue for about six months.

Mr. Gould

Does my hon. Friend accept that many supplementary benefit claimants have no idea how their benefit is calculated and accordingly have the impression that it is fixed arbitrarily? Does he realise that this is one of the major reasons for the feeling of grievance and suspicion which many claimants have towards the system? Will he therefore apply to all claimants as soon as practicable the lessons to be learned from the pilot scheme?

Mr. Jones

This is the reason why the pilot scheme is under way. It is important that we deal with this matter in the way my hon. Friend suggests, and it is desperately important that whatever we do we make the forms issued to claimants clearly understandable to them, otherwise we are no better off.

Mr. Robin F. Cook

Since the scheme can apply only to a sample number of claimants, will my hon. Friend consider publishing the A Code so that all claimants can work out their entitlement to benefit and Members of Parliament can better advise them? Does he appreciate that if legal aid is extended to the appeals tribunals, as recommended by the Law Society, solicitors will not for long tolerate a situation in which the principles on which Supplementary Benefits Commission officers exercise their discretion remain secret?

Mr. Jones

With due respect to my hon. Friend, his supplementary question is not related to the investigation now taking place as referred to in the Question.