§ 22. Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many complaints his offices in north Devon have received regarding anomalies in the new support systems for the elderly, infirm or unemployed.
§ Mr. PortilloWhilst local offices do not keep records of this kind, we believe that the transitional protection for income support claimants, and the extra protection for many housing benefit claimants announced by my right hon. Friend on 27 April, will remove many of the difficulties for claimants at the time of change in the benefit system.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer of 12 April,Official Report, column 122, on what basis it is possible to provide information on disabled claimants who will receive a lower entitlement under income support than they received prior to 11 April.
§ Mr. ScottInformation on all client groups, including the disabled, will be based on statistics provided by the annual statistical inquiry. This provides information by DHSS region.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply of 12 April,Official Report, column 122, how the reformed income-related benefits for the disabled will be monitored.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 22 April at column602. Information will also be derived from the OPCS survey of disabled people.