§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his Department's treatment of the funds raised by the Chelsea Austin appeal fund in respect of Chelsea Austin, Dingwall, Rossshire. [38588]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ursula Brennan to Mr. Charles Kennedy, dated 24 October 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the Department's treatment of the funds raised by the Chelsey Austin Appeal Fund. Mr. Mathison is away from Leeds on Benefits Agency business and he has asked me to reply on his behalf.The Adjudication Officer's original decision to treat the monies in the Chelsea Austin Appeal Fund as capital failed to take account of changes to Scottish Trust law, introduced earlier this year. As a result of those changes, the Chelsey Austin Appeal Fund is accepted as a trust fund in Scottish law.The Adjudication Officer has revised her decision in the light of this and arrears of benefit amounting to £143 have been paid to Chelsey's father, Mr. Kevin Austin.I hope you find this reply helpful.