asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the recipients of social and national insurance benefits are always made aware of the provision that would be of greatest benefit to them when they are entitled to allowances under one of two schemes of assistance, for example, social security payments or rent and rate rebate allowances.

For manpower reasons, local social security offices cannot calculate enttitlement to rebates as well as to supplementary benefit, but where possible they advise claimants that they might be better off with rebates. Both the supplementary benefit scheme and housing finance generally are of course, currently under review.