§ Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional action is being proposed to ensure maximum take-up of benefits in areas where there has been no welfare rights activity.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Department is currently running a national press and television advertising campaign to further improve the take-up of family income supplement among working families with low incomes, wherever they may live. Leaflets and advice about other benefits are available from our local offices throughout the country and in addition people can also get information from citizens advice bureaux. Every effort will continue to be made in all areas to widen information about benefits both in areas where there is little or no welfare rights activity, and where such activity exists.
§ Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements have been made by his Department to monitor the effects of the Social Security Acts 1980 on take-up levels.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. Friend does not propose to add further monitoring to the analyses of family expenditure survey data in alternate years which provide estimates of the take-up of supplementary benefit. But, as the hon. Member will be aware, a main objective of the reform of the supplementary benefits scheme has been to lay emphasis on clearer rules of entitlement, and the effect of this on claimants will be extensively monitored.