§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has any plans to assist financially young people of 16 and 17 years of age who have been excluded from the parental home or who have no parental home to go to; and if he will make a statement;
307W(2) what are the means being used by his Department to determine the extent and degree of poverty among those aged 16 and 17 years who, for whatever reason, are not living in the parental home; and if he will publish the results of any such examination.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIn addition to our monitoring we have examined evidence from organisations such as Barnardo's and the Church of England Children's Society. We have also had discussions with representatives from these and other bodies in the voluntary sector as well as local authority associations.
Our own monitoring has included careful observation of the types of cases referred for consideration under the severe hardship provision.
Our current policies are sound for the overwhelming majority of 16 and 17-year-olds. However, our studies reveal that a minority of young people who, for good reason, have to live independently are facing difficulties. We have therefore decided to introduced the changes announced by my hon. Friend on 13 March at columns 27–28.