§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultation his Department has had with current or potential client groups on the wording and structure of benefit claim forms; and if he has any plans for extending such consultation.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Department has a panel of some 300 outside bodies such as unemployment centres, adult literacy groups, single-parent clubs and advice-giving agencies like citizens advice bureaux. These bodies are consulted as new forms are introduced and exising forms are reviewed. Further, during the recent pilot exercise to consider the extension of postal claiming to all supplementary benefit claimants, some 150 local organisations were invited to comment. Their comments are a valuable contribution to the Department's drive to improve its forms and we do not consider that an extension of such consultation is needed.