§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 96, when he now intends to review the exceptionally severe weather payments made in 1984; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI understand that the chief adjudication officer is issuing today his revised guidance to adjudication officers on dealing with claims to single payments of supplementary benefit for extra fuel costs arising from exceptionally severe weather. A copy is being placed in the Library.
We have no plans to seek reviews of cases which arose last winter; but people who are dissatisfied with decisions on their claims at that time may apply for them to be reviewed by adjudication officers, and the chief adjudication officer's guidance covers the handling of such requests.