§ 76. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of the hardship, details of which have been sent to him, caused by delay in adjusting the payment of supplementary benefits to Birmingham Corporation tenants who have received notification of both a rent and a rate increase of some shillings per week; and what emergency steps he is taking to use extra staff to get out the authorisations of the appropriate extra payments.
§ Mr. O'Malley:My information is that the local offices of the Department are coping well with the extra work caused by the late notification of rent and rate increases. I am not aware that serious hardship is being caused. I am however calling for a further report on the situa- 14W tion and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.