§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider more extensive use of the premises and facilities available in family practitioners' surgeries, hospital outpatients' and health clinics, in order to make clients, especially the chronic sick and infirm, who attend such places and who are qualified for benefits, more aware of their rights; and if he will consider allowing his Department's officers to hold information surgeries periodically at such premises.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe are already studying ways in which the communication of advice and information to social security claimants can be improved as part of the strategy for social security operations announced in November 1980.—[Vol. 994, c.182–85.] I have asked officials to include the suggestions for greater use of NHS facilities in their study of the way information on benefits is communicated to the public.
A great deal is already being done by regional and local office staff of the DHSS, working closely with social workers in hospitals, with voluntary bodies, and the social service departments of the local authorities. In addition, staff give talks to advise local communities on how to claim for benefits, and in the last year more than 1,000 local radio broadcasts, including many phone-in programmes, were undertaken throughout the country as part of the effort being made to ensure that potential claimants are aware of their entitlement.