§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the normal length of time between the date of claim for supplementary benefit by a woman on the grounds of desertion by her husband, and the payment of the claim.
§ Mr. OrmeSeparate information about this particular group of claimants is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, on the basis of a sample it is estimated that in 1976—the latest date for which information is available—about 84 per cent. of claims from persons under pension age were cleared within five working days and 95 per cent. within 10 working days.