§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether all social security offices hold stocks of vouchers entitling persons claiming to be without funds to travel to their homes; whether he is satisfied with the procedure for the control of their issue having regard to the first-class travel provided for a member of the Bradford University Peace Movement from Dover to Bradford when returning from a demonstration in London.
§ Mr. DeakinsYes. Local offices must have the means to help where hardship could otherwise be caused to a person who needs urgent assistance to return home. Issue of travel warrants is strictly controlled but in this particular instance first class travel was authorised by mistake.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent efforts are made to recover the cost of rail travel warrants issued by social security offices to person claiming to be without funds; and whether recovery is to be made in the case of the first-class rail ticket recently obtained for a journey from Dover to Bradford.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe Supplementary Benefits Commission has a statutory power, which it would normally exercise, to recover all or part of a payment of supplementary benefit made in case of urgency to a person in full-time work. Otherwise the recipient may be asked to repay. I understand that the Commission is considering whether to invite64W repayment in this case, where first class travel was authorised by mistake.