§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue guidelines through his Department's local offices about the types of draught-proofing material which can be purchased by claimants using single payments under the supplementary benefits scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Regulations provide for payments to be made to claimants with less than £500 savings for draught proofing materials of reasonable quality. It is for the independent adjudicating authorities to decide whether a claimant is entitled to a payment and, if so, how much. The Chief Supplementary Benefit Officer has issued guidance to benefit officers in the S Manual (paragraphs 7311 and 7312) a copy of which is in the Library. I have no power to intervene in this guidance or the interpretation of the regulations by the independent adjudicating authorities. If a claimant feels that he has been wrongly refused benefit he has a right of appeal to an independent appeal tribunal.