§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances supplementary benefit claimants are interviewed in a locked room; and in what circumstances supplementary benefit claimants are kept locked up until police arrive.
§ Mr. DeakinsSupplementary benefit claimants are not interviewed in locked rooms, though in many offices special interviewing rooms away from the main interviewing areas are fitted with yale-type locks, for reasons of security and privacy, so that they can be freely opened from inside but not from outside. Departmental instructions to staff lay down that no attempt must be made to prevent a claimant from leaving an office if he wishes. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it.