HC Deb 08 June 1981 vol 6 c32W
Miss Wright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current delay in arranging visits to assess home circumstances of new applicants for supplementary benefit in (a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the United Kingdom as a whole.

Mrs. Chalker

The average time taken currently to clear visits to supplementary benefit claimants or recipients is:

Days
(a) in Birmingham 9–10
(b) in the West Midlands region of DHSS 8
(c) Great Britain 8
Separate information about visits solely to new applicants is not readily available. If, however, the hon. Member has any cases about which she is particularly concerned and would let me have details I shall be pleased to look into them.