§ Mr. Terry Fieldsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that regulation 20 of the single payment regulations applying to reconnection charges is correctly applied by his Department's staff on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonDecisions on the application of the supplementary benefit regulations are for the independent adjudicating authorities — the local supplementary benefit officer in the first place—and not for my right hon. Friend. If the hon. Member is aware of cases where particular problems have arisen and will let me have details, I shall be pleased to look into them.
§ Mr. Terry Fieldsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to ensure that payments under the single payment regulations relating to reconnection charges cover the whole amount of the charges and not simply part thereof; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThe cost of reconnecting a fuel supply can already be met under Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) regulation 20.