§ Sir N. Cooper-Keyasked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that there are cases when recipients of social security relief for the payment of rent are applying these sums for other purposes, as a result of which landlords 322W are obliged to take legal proceedings to recover their dues; whether this is in breach of her regulations; and what instructions are in force at her offices to check on the rent book of recipients.
§ Miss HerbisonClaimants' rent is, of course, checked, and if it is found that supplementary benefit is being misapplied the Supplementary Benefits Commission take steps to prevent this happening in the future. The Commission have no power, however, to recover benefit which has been correctly paid but not applied by the claimant for the purpose intended, or to take legal action on these grounds against the person concerned. I am writing to the hon. Member about the particular case he has in mind.