§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases, for each month since January, 1971, supplementary benefit has been reduced in cases of disallowance of unemployment benefit; for each of these months, how many discretionary additions have been awarded in such cases due to hardship; and what were the causes of hardship.
§ Mr. DeanInformation about numbers of reductions is obtained annually only on a sample basis. In November, 1971, there were approximately 19,000. The other information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services at which offices throughout the country the four-week rule limiting supplementary benefit for the unemployed is now being applied; at what date it was reapplied in each of these areas; and how many times since that date the rule has been applied in each area.
§ Mr. DeanI refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 8th June.—[Vol. 838, c.153–4.]
The following offices should be added to that list:
Date Rule Re-applied Office London West Region 12th June, 1972 Portsmouth 26th June, 1972 Oxford 10th July, 1972 Acton, Chelsea, Ealing, Hampstead, Holborn-Finsbury, Kensington, Kensington and Chelsea North, Paddington, St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, Westminster. South Western Region 16th June, 1972 Bath West Midland Region 22nd May, 1972 Brierly Hill, Hereford 24th May, 1972 Worcester 10th July, 1972 Redditch, Wolverhampton North, Wolverhampton South 17th July, 1972 Newcastle (Staffs.)