§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date the Child Benefit Unit received a claim for child benefit from Mrs. L. M. MacCutchan, 19 Price Park, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; when a payment was made; and when it is now proposed to issue a payments book.
§ Mr. Orme,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1977; Vol. 939, c.142],gave the following information:
Mrs. MacCutchan's claim for child benefit was received at Hemel Hempstead local office on 16th June, 1977 and reached the Child Benefit Centre on 20th June. Because Mrs. MacCutchan had been out of the country since 1975, inquiries were necessary to establish whether the residence conditions for benefit were satisfied. On 22nd August a payment for arrears of child benefit from April to August and of family allowances for a six-month period in 1975 was sent to Mrs. MacCutchan, with a letter explaining that an order book for current payment was being sent separately. The book was in fact dispatched at about the same time, but was sent in error to the Post Office for collection by Mrs. MacCutchan instead of direct to her. Under standing instructions the book would not have been returned as unclaimed until after the end of October, so the Department was not aware of the error. A letter was received from Mrs. MacCutchan on 31st October saying she had not received the book. The arrears due from 22nd August were paid to Mrs. MacCutchan on 17th November and a new book will be issued as soon as possible.