§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a combined 111W application form for a number of related social security benefits to enable applicants to be assessed for a number of benefits at the one time.
§ Mr. John PattenMy hon. Friend the Member for Barkston Ash (Mr. Alison), Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, advised the hon. Gentleman on 30 April 1980 in reply to a similar question that a comprehensive pilot scheme had been carried out over a period of one year in the Down district council area to test the effectiveness of providing a single claim form for a wide range of means-tested benefits administered by various Government Departments and agencies in Northern Ireland. The results of the experiment were being evaluated at that time.
That evaluation is now complete and the inter-departmental group has reported that the time is not opportune for the introduction of a scheme for claiming means-tested benefits based on a multi-purpose claim form. Copies of its report are available in the Library of the House. I shall arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Gentleman.