§ Sir D. Kaberryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons, other than those who are chronically sick or disabled, who are in receipt of social security benefits, including supplementary payments, have telephones which are wholly or in part paid for by public funds.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe main responsibility for the provision of help with telephones lies with local authorities under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act. The Supplementary Benefits Commission may also help supplementary beneficiaries, but only in certain limited circumstances where by definition they will be either chronically sick or disabled. Such people can also be in receipt of a national insurance benefit. Because the main responsibility rests with local authorities the number helped by the commission is small, but is not known precisely.