§ 3. Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently in receipt of hardship allowances as a result of industrial injury.
§ The Minister for Social Services (Mr. Stanley Orme)142,000 people were receiving special hardship allowance on 30th September 1975, the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Miss LestorWill my right hon. Friend explain why it is that where so many of these benefits, such as hardship allowance, are linked to a medical examination, very often the allowance is curtailed before the medical examination takes place, thus meaning that the person is without money pending confirmation that he is still in need of hardship compensation?
§ Mr. OrmeThat is not the policy of the Department. If my hon. Friend has in mind specific cases, perhaps she will draw them to my attention.