§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of pension books from pensioners who enter hospital.
§ Dr. BoysonThere are longstanding provisions under which certain social security benefits are reduced or withdrawn after periods of free inpatient treatment in hospital. Some adjustments are made immediately, others after four weeks; those for the majority of retirement pensioners are made after eight weeks. Beneficiaries are asked to return their order books for the appropriate adjustments to be made. An order book reflecting this adjustment is usually then issued. If the hon. Member has a particular case or point of difficulty in mind I would be pleased to consider it.