§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if her Department will investigate the practice of lending money against social security benefit books; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyUnder the provisions of the Supplementary Benefit Act—previously the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966—it is an offence for a person to lend money against order books issued by the Department of Health and Social Security.
Every order book contains a warning that the book cannot be assigned or pledged as a security and that any person who unlawfully receives or holds the book is liable to prosecution.
The Department always investigates allegations that an offence of this kind is being committed. Proceedings have been taken in about 20 cases since 1971.