§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money his Department has paid out to tourists from the United States of America; and what steps he proposes to take to recover it.
§ Mr. DeanIn normal circumstances my Department makes no payments to tourists from the United States. On 27th and 28th August emergency payments of supplementary benefit totalling £310 were made to 68 United States citizens who were temporarily stranded at London Airport (Gatwick) and had no resources whatever. Of this amount, £11 has so far been refunded voluntarily and the possibility of recovering the remainder is being considered.