HC Deb 30 June 1986 vol 100 cc419-20W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what obligations he imposes upon those in receipt of social security: and if he will make a statement.

Hospital building schemes over £5 million started since May 1979
District Scheme Estimated cost £ million* Beds where provided Operating theatres where provided Approval Start Initial planned completion date Actual or estimated (E) completion
South Cumbria Furness General scheme 2 PH 1 7.8 — — 1980 April 1986 July 1988 July 1988
North Tyneside North Tyneside PH 1 13.5 334 6 1977 April 1980 January 1984 December 1983
Gateshead Queen Elizabeth Gateshead PH 1 7.9 200 6 1979 September 1981 December 1984 April 1985
South Tees South Cleveland general PH 1B 11.8 150 — 1981 May 1985 November 1987 December 1987 E
East Yorkshire Bridlington New Community hospital 14.5 219 1 1980 January 1985 January 1988 January 1988 E
Scunthorpe Goole New Community hospital 12.6 166 1 1980 May 1985 May 1988 May 1988 E
Scarborough Scarborough DGH PH 1(nucleus) 8.5 161 — 1981 November 1983 November 1986 November 1986 E
Dewsbury Staincliffe DGH PH 1 (nucleus) 17.4 306 4 1979 January 1985 July 1988 July 1988 E
North Derbyshire Chesterfield and North Derby Royal hospital PH 2B 7.9 168 4 1981 October 1985 April 1988 April 1988 E
Southern Derbyshire Derby City PH 1 15.7 242 4 1980 August 1982 January 1986 December 1985
Southern Derbyshire Derby Royal infirmary PH 2 13.9 316 — 1980 January 1984 January 1987 January 1987 E
Leicestershire Glenfield DGH PH 1 16.0 200 4 1976 September 1980 September 1983 April 1983
North Lincolnshire Lincoln county PH 1 11.7 112 4 1978 July 1981 October 1984 July 1984

Mr. Major

Every person who makes a claim for a social security benefit, is under an obligation in law to furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as the Secretary of State, acting through his officials, may require for the determination of the claim. This may involve the claimant being required to attend for interview at either a DHSS local office or an unemployment benefit office.

There is a similar obligation on every person receiving a benefit, whether on his own behalf or on someone else's, to furnish such information as the Secretary of State may require in order to confirm continued title to benefit. In particular, the benefit recipient is obliged to notify the Secretary of State promptly of any change of circumstances that he might reasonably be expected to know might affect the right to benefit. To this end, benefit recipients are advised by way of DHSS leaflets, benefit notes issued with girocheque payments and printed notes in benefit order books of those changes which they should report.

An unemployed claimant is, as a condition of his receiving unemployment or supplementary benefit, usually required to attend at an unemployment benefit office at intervals determined by the Secretary of State, in order to demonstrate his fitness and availability for work. These intervals are in most cases fortnightly, although they can be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each individual case.