§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is aware of any difficulties being experienced by the parents of mentally handicapped children regarding delays in receiving their attendance allowance after the children have stayed at short stay accommodation provided by local authorities;
(2) if he will change his administrative procedures to allow the parents of mentally handicapped children to pay the local authority a fee equivalent to the amount of the attendance allowance while the children are staying at short stay accommodation provided by the local authorities, which fee could then be forwarded to his Department, instead of making the parents return their attendance allowance books to his Department while the children are away from home.
§ Mr. RossiI have received a number of representations about delay in reinstating the payment of attendance172W allowance for children who have been in local authority short stay accommodation. I have asked for a review of the extent of, and reasons for, any delays and will consider what, if any, changes in procedures are necessary and will write to the hon. Member when the review is complete.