§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to implement the recommendations, contained in the social policy statement produced by the organisation for one-parent families, Gingerbread, a copy of which has been sent to his Department.
§ Mr. PrenticeThere were 31 numbered recommendations in this statement. They covered a very wide range of subjects including taxation, housing, legal and other matters outside my right hon. Friend's responsibility. The recommendations within this Department's field have many links with the options for change discussed in the report on the review of the supplementary benefits scheme. We have studied carefully the findings of that report, the comments made on it, and recommendations such as those of Gingerbread. Our proposals for initiating the long process of simplifying the scheme will be presented in a Bill to be introduced later this year.