§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to improve the arrangement by which self-employed persons who become unemployed can claim supplementary benefit.
§ Mrs. Chalker:I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 23 June 1981—Official Report, Vol. 7, c.70–71 . The rules for self-employed people who have become unemployed who whish to claim supplementary benefit are analogous to those for unemployed people who formerly worked for an employer, but, before paying benfit, the benefit officer may need to see accounting evidence of the state of the business. If this causes delay, an urgent cases payment may be appropriate. These are matters for the independent adjudicating authorities, but, if the hon. Member has any suggestions for changes in the regulations, I shall be glad to consider them.