§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration is given in assessing applications for single payments of supplementary benefit in respect of children who have outgrown rather than worn out footwear and clothing.
§ Mr. NewtonRegulation 27 of the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Regulations provides that no payment for either clothing or footwear needs can be made where the need has arisen either through normal wear and tear or in the normal course of events; for example, where an item of clothing or footwear is outgrown.
Such claims can be considered only under the provisions of regulation 30 of the regulations where a single payment would be the only means of preventing serious damage or serious risk to the health or safety of a member of the claimant's assessment unit. Guidance on this provision in relation to children's clothing and footwear needs has been issued by the Chief Adjudication Officer at paragraphs 7545–7547 and 7566–7569 of the S manual, a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will correlate the numbers of single payment awards made in each Department of Health and Social Security office with the number of claimants in each of those offices; and if he will place the information in the Library.