HC Deb 07 May 1973 vol 856 cc22-3W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish and publicise, for the purposes of paying supplementary benefits, a more precise criterion of cohabitation, which would depend predominantly on proof of financial dependence.

Mr. Dean

This is a matter for the Supplementary Benefits Commission which has recently published, in paragraph 17 of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook, the main criteria which it takes into account.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that the precise criteria by which the Supplementary Benefits Commission adjudges the existence of cohabitation should be made available to appeal tribunals, that the evidence which the commission's officers have collected in accordance with these criteria should be openly declared before the tribunal, and that no benefit should be cut off until this procedure has been fully carried out.

Mr. Dean

The question at issue in deciding the existence of cohabitation is whether the relationship between the man and the woman is such that they must be regarded as living as man and wife in the ordinary sense of the term. There can be no precise criteria for this, but, as my right hon. Friend has explained in his answer to the hon. Member on 5th April, the commission has published the main criteria it takes into account. The commission's officers produce to the appeal tribunal all the relevant evidence in their possession. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No", since it is for the commission to withdraw benefit whenever it is satisfied that no entitlement exists.—[Vol. 854, c. 144–5.]

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure, regarding supplementary benefit payment in cases of alleged cohabitation that no anonymous tip-offs shall be accepted in evidence, and that a clear written statement of the evidence adduced against the claimant shall be submitted to her prior to any hearing before a tribunal.

Mr. Dean

Information given anonymously serves only to put the commission on inquiry, and cannot be regarded as evidence. When an appeal is made, a comprehensive summary of the facts on which the commission based its decision is submitted to the claimant and to the tribunal before the hearing.