§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the document issued by his Department which instructs departmental investigators on how to interview single mothers applying for benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe document in question forms part of the Department's instructions about liable relative work, and has been in virtually the same form for many years, during several Administrations. These instructions have no direct bearing on entitlement to benefit but deal with the protection of public funds, and publication would not, therefore, be appropriate. However, as I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) On 25 March—[Vol. 1, c.365–6]—I have arranged for this part of the liable relative procedures to be looked at urgently and I will make a further statement when that examination is complete. I will include in that statement information about any changes made in this part of the instructions.