§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to the granting of assistance for the repatriation back to their country of origin of applicants who have had their supplementary benefit converted to special hardship allowance.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1985, c. 276A single payment may be made in limited circumstances to enable certain people who are receiving supplementary benefit to return to their country of origin. It is unlikely that someone receiving special hardship allowance would also be entitled to supplementary benefit, and receipt of special hardship allowance alone does not confer eligibility for help with repatriation expenses under the supplementary benefits scheme. However, most applications for this assistance are now dealt with under a scheme operated by International Social Service of Great Britain. This scheme does not require that the applicant for assistance is in receipt of supplementary benefit.