§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects that the new supplementary benefits handbook taking account of changes in benefit rates in November 1985 will be published.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 89]: It has not been the practice automatically to produce a new edition of the handbook each year; none was published for the years 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978 or 1981. Taking account of various factors, including the greater frequency of upratings in 1985–87, it is not proposed to publish a new edition giving the November 1985 rates. Further editions of a handbook will be considered in the light of the changes proposed in the current Social Security Bill.