§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she 504W will make a statement on the instructions that have been issued by the Supplementary Benefits Commission to its local offices regarding the making of exceptional needs payments to students with dependants who are suffering financial hardship because of the non-payment of an assumed parental contribution; and, in particular, whether it is the policy of the commission that no exceptional needs payment may be made to a student with dependants whose parent has failed to pay the assumed parental contribution.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI understand that the Supplementary Benefits Commission has issued no instructions on this matter; but it would consider it inappropriate to make good, by way of an exceptional needs payment, any shortfall in a parental contribution. If my hon. Friend is concerned about the circumstances of one of his constituents, I shall be glad to have inquiries made if he will write to me about them.