HC Deb 09 April 1984 vol 58 cc129-30W
Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make copies of his Department's current "Social Security Handbook" available to all local authority libraries.

Dr. Boyson

[pursuant to his reply, 4 April 1984, c. 596]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the "Supplementary Benefit Handbook." Local authority libraries may purchase the handbook like any other publication, and can obtain a discount of 50 per cent. on the purchase price of £2.50. We have, however, no proposals for providing the handbook free to local authority libraries. We aim to make the handbook available to the public at a low price as possible, and a factor to be taken into account in the pricing is the number of free copies issued.

of benefit to which unemployed people are entitled, but which is not paid as a result of the failure of the people concerned to make claims.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1984, c. 654]: The estimated amount of supplementary benefit unclaimed in 1981, the latest date for which information is available, was £410 million. I regret that information is not available about other benefits to which unemployed people may be entitled.