§ Mr. Fortescueasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present functions of his Department's local advisory committees on social security; how many such committees exist; what representations he has received from them that they are not satisfied with their present range of action; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe function of local advisory committees is to consider and advise on questions relating to the administration of the national insurance and supplementary benefit schemes which the Secretary of State or the Supplementary Benefit Commission refer to them. To facilitate such references, committees 207W may also bring to the Secretary of State's notice any special problem arising from local conditions which bears on the administration of the schemes. There are 141 committees.
Since June, 1967, when the present social security local advisory committees were set up 41 representations relating to the scope and organisation of their activities have been received. 28 of these concerned the system of single member interviews of supplementary benefits claimants. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. Hunt) on 11th November, 1968, which announced that in future these interviews could be undertaken by more than one committee member. Local advisory committees have since then generally accepted the new arrangements.—[Vol. 773, c. 33.]