§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now arrange that, prior to the release of a prisoner, an official of the Department of Health and Social Services should assess his entitlement to benefit for the first week of freedom, and for that entitlement to be paid to him on his release.
§ Mr. OrmeThere is no prospect of additional staff being made available for this purpose. The discharge grant is related broadly to the current rates of supplementary benefit. The Supplementary Benefits Commission is always ready to help if exceptionally the grant is considered inadequate for an ex-prisoner's requirements during the first week.
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