HC Deb 23 June 1986 vol 100 cc67-8W
Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which paragraphs of circular S51/85 are still in force and which have been withdrawn.

Mr. Newton

The full contents of the circular are still in force.

Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if claims for supplementary benefit from young people born on or after 1 February 1970 are being dealt with pending the further legal advice which the Office of the Chief Adjudication Officer is seeking on their position.

Mr. Newton

Claims received from these young people are determined by the independent adjudicating authorities and the chief adjudication officer's guidance on claims from school leavers is contained in the published S manual and S circulars.

Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the number of claims for supplementary benefit being received at local offices from young people who left relevant education at or before Easter and about how many are being successful, the age of those applying, and how many have returned to school after Easter for 12 hours a week or less.

Mr. Newton

Local offices have been asked to record the number of successful claims to benefit made between 7 April 1986 and 3 June 1986 where payment has been made under the conditions outlined in circular S5I/85 and in addition to record the number of successful claims made between May and the end of August 1986 where the claimant has left school before his legal school leaving date. The results of this exercise are not yet available.

Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's current circular explaining the rules governing claims to supplementary benefit by those who have recently left school.

Mr. Newton

A copy of the chief adjudication officer's published guidance—circular S51/85—is available in the Library.

Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the circular sent by the Office of the Chief Adjudication Officer to the regional adjudication officers which informed them that further legal advice was being sought on the question of benefit for school-leavers.

Mr. Newton

No. The hon. Member may wish to pursue the question of the letter with the chief adjudication officer.