§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action she proposes to take to ensure that lone parents claiming interim child benefit do not suffer a reduction of income due to loss of other means tested benefits; and what action she is taking to advise applicants of the effects of claiming the benefit.
§ Mr. MeacherI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 19th February—[Vol. 905, c.829–30.] Action taken by my Department to advise lone parents of their position has involved the issue of letters to heads of one-parent families in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement explaining the effects on those benefits of claiming child interim benefit.