§ 53. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that following the rates increase in Newham last April when recipients on supplementary assistance had to remit their books to get these extra rate charges adjusted on their social security payment books, since when many persons on the lowest income levels have had to wait and are still waiting to have their payments books returned due to lack of staff, he will take urgent measures to alleviate these hardships to the poorest sections of the population.
§ Mrs. ChalkerSupplementary benefit recipients did not have to return their order books to get these increases which are being paid either by the issue of an additional book or in the next renewal book. I have no knowledge of any problems of the kind described, but I shall arrange for any case of hardship to be investigated if the hon. Member will let me have details.