HC Deb 19 March 1979 vol 964 c471W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mrs. Helen Ezenwa, a Nigerian citizen, having entered the United Kingdom, was allowed to remain on social security whilst her husband was in Nigeria; why on her death her body was flown back to Nigeria at public expense; and whether he will make a statement of the total amount of public money paid to Mrs. Ezenwa.

Mr. Orme

The usual rules about the confidentiality of claimants' affairs apply in this case, but I can assure my hon. Friend that, so far as the Supplementary Benefits Commission was aware, there was nothing in Helen Ezenwa's circumstances to prevent her from qualifying for supplmentary benefit. The Commission was not responsible for the funeral arrangements.