§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discretionary powers are issued to local managers in his Department in relation to the issue of goods and benefits in kind to persons in receipt of social security payments; and what checks are carried out to ensure that the goods are not sold and further benefits of a similar nature obtained from the Department.
§ Mrs. ChalkerLocal office managers receive guidance from the Supplementary Benefits Commission on the exercise of the commission's discretionary powers. The commission has published its policy on this and other areas of the supplementary benefits scheme in the supplementary benefits handbook and in regular issues of the SBCNotes and News. Any indication that a particular individual may be claiming benefit fraudulently, whether by single or weekly payments, is thoroughly investigated.