§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department will consider expanding the categories of claimant service providers to whom payments of benefit may be made directly rather than to the user to include those respite care projects administered by the archdiocese of Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeNo. Individual cases are considered on their merits.
§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department will consider directing offices to inform administrators of respite care projects of payments made to user claimants and carers in those cases where the authority of the recipient has been obtained; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeAll personal information held in social security records is regarded as confidential and is not normally disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned. Where the benefit recipient has given his consent, information on benefit payments can be given to the administrators of respite care projects. This is reflected in the procedural instructions issued to staff in DSS local offices.