§ 66. Mr. Maxwellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance is provided by his Department to families where a parent dies suddenly or is seriously injured as a result of a road or other accident; whether he will take steps to issue, in consultation with other Departments, a short explanatory booklet on the national and local government help available and hints on how to cope with such a situation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Crossman:The health and welfare services will normally help a family who are in touch with them to get 213W help from appropriate services, including social security. Standard death certificates contain information which directs the next-of-kin to the Department's social security offices. The importance of paying supplementary benefits and national insurance promptly is impressed upon officials. Since the local services vary from place to place, a booklet on the benefits and services available in an area and how to claim them is best produced locally. Some areas already have such booklets, and the material which we have provided for them about national benefits and services is available to any other authority wishing to produce similar booklets.