§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that local authorities are sufficiently assiduous in drawing possible entitlement to benefits to the attention of persons with whom they are in contact, in particular with those attending day centres; if he will encourage them to mount specific attempts to increase take-up in the light of the increase in benefits payable where this has been done; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th November 1977; Vol. 939, c. 893–4], gave the following information:
The responsibility for information about social security benefits rests with my Department and thus the primary source of advice will normally be an individual's local social security office. In addition, my Department provides information by means of a wide range of leaflets, posters, specialist articles, Press advertisements, Press releases, radio, TV advertisements, exhibitions and corres- 116W pondence, as well as arranging for speakers and interviews. As I know my hon. Friend appreciates, I am constantly seeking other ways in which information supplied by my Department can be improved and made more effective.
Local authorities also make a contribution in providing information and advice about benefits to disabled people, including their rights under the Chronically Sick and. Disabled Persons Act, and make use of my Department's publications or draw on them to produce their own information material.