HC Deb 13 December 1988 vol 143 cc531-2W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will consider seeking to amend statutes in order that a duty be placed upon his Department to ensure as far as is practicable that benefits are taken up by potential claimants as well as being available for claimants;

(2) if he will introduce legislation imposing a statutory duty on his Department to encourage the take-up of benefits administered by them.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No. The Department already aims to ensure that members of the public have ready access to comprehensive, accurate and comprehensible information about benefit entitlement. This is done at national level by identifying the most effective and practical means of communication and also by a wide variety of initiatives taken at regional and local levels to promote awareness of the benefits available.