§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will encourage authorities other than that of Liverpool to issue a combined form of social benefit claims covering social security and rent and rate rebates in view of the low level of applications by those entitled to make such claims.
§ Mr. O'MalleyA multi-purpose claim form for these means tested benefits—with the exception of family income supplement and supplementary benefit—but covering also free school meals and most local authority discretionary benefits is to be used experimentally for 12 months in Shropshire.
If the results of this and two other pilot schemes—one of which may be held in Liverpool—are satisfactory the form could be introduced on a national basis.
In the meantime there is no reason why local authorities should not use a common claim form for their discretionary benefits but this is a matter for their own decision.