§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will take steps to ensure that the term "pocket money" is not used by statutory bodies to describe the personal allowance paid to people in residential and nursing homes and hospitals.
§ Mr. NewtonThe term "pocket money" is not used in any of the relevant regulations governing amounts for personal expenses or the downrating of benefit for those in hospital for a long time. I share my hon. Friend's dislike of the phrase and have asked for it to be eliminated from DSS publications when next revised. So far as references by other Departments or bodies is concerned, he may wish to make similar representations to those responsible.