§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement describing the form of assistance and cash benefits available to those who suffered in the recent East Coast floods.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Supplementary Benefits Commission is anxious to help in the task of relief. In particular, the Commission makes use of its overriding discretion to make payments in cases of 823W urgency to people who would normally be excluded from receiving supplementary benefit—for example, because they are in full-time work. Payments can also be made for immediate needs such as food and fuel in the first days of an emergency; or for the replacement of essential clothing and household articles not covered by insurance. Notice has, of course, to be taken of payments from other sources, including any payment made to affected families by the local authority. In practice, most payments by the Commission are made to people already in regular receipt of social security benefits.