§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department give, when considering the appropriate amount of weekly supplementary benefit due to a family living wholly on socal security, to the fact that when travelling to pay part of the weekly upkeep of their dogs in a dog shelter, a member or members of the family travel to the dog shelter in a taxi.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South, regarding dogs on the dole, Official Report, 9th May 1978, column 424, if he will now confirm that in the calculation of the required amount of supplementary benefit to be paid to the couple mentioned in that answer, to match their resources to their needs, recognition 203W was given to the needs of the family to pay part of the cost of the dog's upkeep in the Cat and Dog Shelter, Newcastle, which has amounted to approximately £150 in six months; and if he will make a statement.