§ 37. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services if he will instruct staff in local offices of his Department to advise claimants to apply for those benefits which are most advantageous to them and to check their possible entitlement to rent and rate rebates against any supplementary benefit for which they may be eligible.
§ Mrs. ChalkerLocal office staff are already instructed to advise claimants to claim other social security benefits, such as sickness or invalidity benefits, attendance allowance or family income supplement, if it seems likely that entitlement to such benefits might exist.
With regard to advice concerning rent or rate rebates and rent allowances, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 14 January.—[Vol. 996, c. 584.]