§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the changes in home visiting procedures will affect such visits to one-parent families; and if he will ensure that decisions on claims from lone parents for exceptional needs payments are not delayed by the reduction in home visits.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe changes in home visiting should have little effect on one-parent families. They will still be able to have their claims taken in their homes and normal review visits will continue, though in those cases under the control of a specialist officer the danger of duplication of effort will be removed by reducing the number of visits made by non-specialists. Decisions in claims for exceptional needs payments will often be made on information already available, and dispensing with visits should speed rather than delay clearance. Where visits are still made in these claims, they should be made as promptly as before.