§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Social Services, prepare a pamphlet setting out as briefly as possible all the benefits to which a person may be entitled while unemployed and where and when to apply for them, and take steps to ensure that employers give copies of the pamphlet to any employees who may be made redundant.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services and I do not feel that such a pamphlet would be practicable. It would have to be very long if it were to cover all benefits an unemployed person might wish to claim in sufficient detail to avoid misleading. This would make it difficult for anyone to find a point in which he was particularly interested.
It would need frequent amendment and if employers were to hold copies there would be a danger of their handing out obsolete versions.
362WThe Department of Health and Social Security already provides over 100 comprehensive leaflets dealing with each benefit and welfare service which are issued as appropriate, and a special booklet, "Family Benefits and Pensions", for social workers and other people who come into personal contact with potential claimants.