§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct his Department's local officers to authorise single payments for the purchase of gas appliances bought only from approved dealers and to instruct them positively to discourage claimants from purchasing such items from non-approved dealers.
§ Mr. WhitneySingle payments for gas appliances are intended to meet the cost of reconditioned items if these are available and of new items if they are not. We believe it right that our claimants should have the freedom to locate reasonably priced items of their own choice, and we would not wish to introduce a general restriction on where claimants should spend their single payments. However, our guidance (in paragraph 7214(2) of the S manual—a copy of which is in the Library) tells local office staff that, where a reconditioned item is to be provided for, the claimant should be advised to obtain one that has been checked and will be installed by a suitably qualified person.