asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities now charge, or propose to charge, persons in receipt of supplementary benefit for home help services; in how many cases these charges will exceed the margin included in the long-term scale rate for extra expenses, what guidance he has given to the Supplementary Benefits Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Detailed information about the charging policies of individual local authorities could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I understand that the Supplementary Benefits Commission is looking carefully at the consequences for the supplementary benefits scheme of changes introduced by local authorities in their charging policies.