HC Deb 17 July 1980 vol 988 c634W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had, and from whom calling for the withdrawal of the leaflet, 'Changes to the supplementary benefit scheme and how they affect you'; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

[pursuant to her reply, 11 July 1980, c. 347]: I have had one representation from the National Council for One-Parent Families calling for withdrawal of the leaflet on the grounds that the changes to which it refers do not yet have the approval of Parliament.

It has been the practice, under successive Governments, since the early 1970s to anticipate parliamentary approval of the uprating regulations in order to ensure that beneficiaries receive increased benefit levels from the date of the uprating. Many of the changes in the supplementary benefits scheme are being implemented at the same time as the uprating. In this situation, the leaflet to which the hon. Member refers has been issued to help beneficiaries to understand the changes which will take place from the uprating date. Local offices have been instructed to issue the leaflet with a slip which points out that the changes described are subject to the approval of Parliament.