§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why there is no right of appeal against payments of supplementary benefits at emergency centres in Birmingham;
(2) what is the authority for the operation of the emergency supplementary benefit payments at less than the full rate in Birmingham.
§ Mr. NewtonThe money being paid out by emergency centres in Birmingham is not supplementary benefit; nor is it any benefit under any of the various Social Security Acts. It is money paid on account of benefit under extra-statutory arrangements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to prevent hardship among those deprived of their benefit.