§ Mrs. Renee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has considered changing the supplementary benefit regulations to exempt adoption allowances; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have noted the concern that has been expressed on the way the supplementary benefit regulations will apply to a family in receipt of an adoption allowance, and my right hon. Friend is considering the points that have been made.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals have been made to the social security commissioners over supplementary benefit; in how many cases leave to appeal has been granted in (a) under one month, (b) within three months, (c) within six months and (d) over six months; and if he will break down these figures to show the appeals being made by his Department and those by claimants.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 10 May 1982, c. 200]: As at 6 May 1982, 1,322 applications for leave to appeal on supplementary benefit cases have been received by the social security commissioners since November 1980. 1,194 of these have been made by claimants and 128 by the supplementary benefit officer. Of those applications determined, leave to appeal has been granted in 114 cases within one month of the application; in 76 cases within 3 months; in 131 cases within 6 months; and in 75 cases in over 6 months. Leave to appeal has been granted to claimants in 287 cases and to the supplementary benefit officer in 109 cases.