HC Deb 18 January 1972 vol 829 c117W
51. Mr. Joel Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend leaflet F11 headed, Dental and Optical Charges: How to claim exemption or help, so as to delete the provision that where a man and wife are living together this form should be completed by the husband; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dean

Help given with National Health Service dental and optical charges is in the form of payments of supplementary benefit under Section 6 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966. Under that Act the requirements and resources of a man and wife living together have to be aggregated and the man only is entitled to claim benefit. The form cannot therefore be amended as requested.