§ Mr. David Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will review the procedure under which claimants at local offices of the Department of Health and Social Services may obtain funds by signing a statement; and whether, where the funds so claimed are owed to a third party, he will introduce new procedures to ensure that the third party gets them.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe procedure for claiming and payment of supplementary benefit at local offices is kept under constant review. If a statement made by a caller cannot be adequately checked, a provisional or part payment only of benefit would normally be made pending full verification; or, in the case of an itinerant claimant without lodgings, a voucher on a hostel or lodging house would be given or he would be referred to a reception centre. Payments may be made to third parties where it seems likely that the money will not be used by the claimant for the purpose intended.