§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the Civil Service dispute is now having on payment of child benefit.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI very much regret that, as a result of the Civil Service dispute, the issue of child benefit order-books from the child benefit centre at Washington has been stopped since 8 June. Arrangements have been made for mothers whose order-books run out to carry on receiving child benefit at post offices if a new book is not available. Changes in circumstances should be reported to the local DHSS office, but I regret that there will be delay in making payment for new babies. A notice explaining this was placed in all the national newspapers on 11 June and a poster with similar information is being displayed in post offices.