HC Deb 05 February 1979 vol 962 cc58-9W
Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the effect on the level of telephone and counter inquiries concerning supplementary benefit of the experimental use of written notices of assessment; and what was the response of claimants.

Mr. Deakins

In the most recent experiment with the automatic issue of written notices of assessment there was no noticeable impact on the volume of callers and telephone inquiries and virtually no response from claimants.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the weekly allowance on supplementary benefit for heating a two-bedroom house; and if he will express this in terms of the price of gallons of heating oil per cubic foot of housing, or in litres per cubic metre if preferred.

Mr. Deakins

There are no fixed separate amounts within the supplementary benefit scale rates for the various day-to-day living expenses, including heating, which those rates are intended to cover.

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