§ 49. Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made in making the benefits system easier for the public to understand and for his Department's staff to administer.
§ Mr. Peter LloydOne of the main aims of the social security reforms introduced in April of this year is to simplify the income-related benefit system both for the public and for staff. The previous benefits were based on independent, and often conflicting, rather than complementary principles. The new benefits structure is more coherent and comprehensible. Income support is based on a simple system of personal allowances, topped up with special premiums for those in a number of priority groups. The premiums provide automatic extra help to these groups and avoid the necessity for intrusive questioning which many seeking additional help found distasteful. The rules for income support form the basis of the rules for both housing benefit and for family credit.
Through the Department's communications strategy, benefit leaflets have been redesigned to make them more easily understood. They now describe benefits and the claims procedure in a clearer and more straightforward manner. Some leaflets are also available in translation for ethnic minority groups.
§ 50. Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of supplementary benefit in 1987–88; and how many people are currently in receipt of income support.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Members for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd), Burnley (Mr. Pike) and Carmarthen (Mr. Williams).