§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations were made to the Minister for Social Security by the British Kidney Patients Association on 14 October; what ministerial reply has been sent; and what reaction he has had from the president of the association.
§ Mrs ChalkerThe association wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 October about the changes in the benefit rules from 14 September and their effect on the sickness benefit position of patients who have to take two or three days off work each week for dialysis. He was unable to reply until 20 November, when he explained that special action had been taken in early September, before the changes had come into effect, to ensure that the benefit payments to dialysis patients would not be affected by the change. No further communication has been received from the president of the association.