§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the serious delay in the issue of pension payment and family allowance payment books, he will institute arrangements 830W may be indicators of the rate of occurrences following the implementation of the Abortion Act in April 1968 and in the previous two years, are also included in the table:
whereby local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security will advance equal amounts of money until the order books are received, when books are delayed by three weeks or more.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere is now no delay in issuing pension and child benefit renewal order books, provided no change of circumstances is involved, but they are still subject to postal delays, which show marked regional variations.
There is still a delay in dealing with new claims and changes of circumstances. All possible steps will continue to be taken to minimise the delays, which have resulted from previous industrial action and the current ban on overtime. Anyone in financial difficulty because of the absence of an order book can contact the local social security office.
I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's replies to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) on 24 May and the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) on 21 June and my replies to the hon. Member for 831W Dundee, East on 14 June, my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 5 July, my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd) on 13 July and the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, Central (Mr. McNamara) on 16 July.—[Vol. 967, c. 213–14; Vol. 968, c. 313–14.]