§ 53. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is aware that a man, details of whom have been supplied to her, who has been receiving social security payments since 1966, has recently received increases in allowances of £18 per week, and is now receiving £102 per week tax-free from public funds; what action has been taken, and when, to ascertain whether he was and is able and available for work; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleySpecific procedures exist for the control of claims for incapacity benefits, and these include provision for obtaining further medical opinions on incapacity whenever, and as often as, this seems necessary. These procedures are of course applicable to the case which has recently received press publicity and which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind as they are to other cases. Increases in the rates of national insurance benefit have recently been implemented on the basis approved by both Houses of Parliament in June. The increase in respect of each eligible child in the family of a long-term beneficiary was 85 pence a week.