§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take in view of the decision of the court that the present coal industry dispute is unofficial in relation to supplementary benefits; and if he will take steps to pay the appropriate amount to the families of miners on strike.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 23 October, at column571.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the guidance given to local social security offices on the granting of special dietary allowances in the case of striking miners' families excludes the gluten-free diet required by coeliac patients from eligibility for such allowances.
§ Mr. NewtonDecisions on entitlement in individual cases are a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities. No specific guidance on the position regarding coeliac disease is currently given to adjudication officers. If a member of a striker's family required such a diet the adjudication officer would make an appropriate addition to benefit if he considered that an additional requirement under subparagraph (a) or (e)—higher rate dietary allowances—of paragraph 14 of schedule 4 to the Requirements Regulations was applicable, taking account of medical advice in the individual case. No allowance could be made if the lower rate dietary addition was adjudged to be appropriate.