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Fuel Payments

Volume 930: debated on Tuesday 19 April 1977

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he will take to deal with problems arising from division of responsibility for cash payments to help low-income families with fuel costs between the Supplementary Benefits Commission and local authority social services departments.

The separate responsibilities of the Supplementary Benefits Commission and local authority social services departments are clearly set out in a booklet prepared last year on behalf of the Commission and the local authority associations entitled "Assistance in Cash". A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House. Social workers and the staff of local social security offices have copies of this booklet. I do not consider any further action is called for at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask the Supplementary Benefits Commission to issue further guidance to local offices setting out in which circumstances weekly fuel payments may be made direct by the Supplementary Benefits Commission to fuel authorities.

No. Full instructions were issued to local offices when these arrangements were introduced, and I am not aware of any reason why further guidance is needed. A careful watch is, however, being kept on the operation of these direct payment arrangements for fuel.