asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the wage-stop rule for supplementary benefits is operated on national wage rates or on those being paid in the locality in which the claimant lives.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission takes account of a claimant's recent earnings in his last employment where these are known, or of average wage rates in the locality for jobs for which he might be suitable. If neither of these is practicable, the rates—for London and elsewhere—negotiated by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities (Manual Workers) are used.