§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what contact he has had with the London borough of Redbridge concerning the charges for home helps which are being imposed on recipients of supplementary benefit; what steps he is taking in the matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1980, c. 441]: I have received information on the policy of the London borough of Redbridge on charges for home helps. People on supplementary benefit are charged at a lower rate than others, and the charge may be waived altogether. Local authorities have discretionary powers under para 3(2) of Schedule 8 of the National Health Service Act 1977, to recover such charges, if any, as they consider reasonable, having regard to the means of the recipients of home help services. The Supplementary Benefits Commission has made clear its view that local authorities should exercise their discretionary powers to make charges in such a way as to waive them for people living at supplementary benefit level, or at least so that any charges levied do not impose hardship on such clients. My right hon. Friend does not intend to interfere with local authorities' decisions in such matters.
278Wother than supplementary benefit the amounts shown include child benefit. The supplementary benefit rates do not include child benefit, but this benefit is taken into account in full against the family's requirements. All the amounts shown are tax-free.