§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to draw to the attention of other potential claimants the domestic assistance benefit to which his Department decided Mr. Keith Armstrong was entitled after he had appealed against its earlier decision to reduce his benefits.
§ Mr. RossiThe provision to meet the extra costs of domestic assistance is published in leaflets SB8 and SB9, which go to all new claimants, and in the supplementary benefits handbook which is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and is usually available to readers in local libraries. Copies of the Supplementary Benefits (Requirements) Regulations 1980, which govern this provision, are also available through Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the decision of his Department in the case of Mr. Keith Armstrong, a person suffering disablement, following the decision of the West London appeal tribunal, Register No. A1–191, to adjourn its hearing to enable his Department to take up the question of Mr. Armstrong's payment for domestic help.
§ Mr. RossiDecisions on individual supplementary benefit cases are taken by the independent adjudicating authorities and not by officers acting on my right hon. Friend's behalf. I cannot, therefore, comment on the decisions mentioned in the question.