§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases in each of the last 10 years, where the local gas or electricity office proposed to cut off the supply to a customer because of arrears of payment, was this intention discussed with the local office of the Supplementary Benefits Commission or of the Social Services Department or of its predecessor; and in how many such cases was assistance given, respectively, to prevent or postpone the cut-off and in other cases what action was taken.
§ Mr. DeanI regret that this information is not available. The Supplementary Benefits Commission accepts the need for close co-operation with the social services308W departments and the appropriate fuel authorities to consider what help is appropriate where a beneficiary incurs a fuel debt, and what action is necessary to avoid further difficulties. Last year the commission, the local authority associations and the gas and electricity boards centrally agreed a number of recommendations about methods of extending and strengthening local liaison arrangements for handling fuel debt cases. These are facilitating improved co-operation locally between the various statutory authorities.