§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, during the latest available three-month period, in what percentage of benefits the exact amount of benefit paid was decided partially or wholly at the discretion of an officer of his Department; and what was the money value of this amount.
§ Mr. OrmeAll benefits are paid within a legal framework laid down by Parliament. It is impossible to quantify 371W in the way requested the extent to which payments to individuals are affected by judgments made by departmental officers.