asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reconsider the Supplementary Benefit Commission guidelines in order to encourage payment to claimants to cover charges made by local authorities for home helps, home nursing aids and such things as incontinence pads and similar necessities required by disabled people.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission issues its own guidance on the payment of benefit. As regards claimants who are charged by local authorities for a home help service, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 24 March. —[Vol. 981 c. 431–2.] Similar considerations apply where local authorities provide and charge for home nursing aids and incontinence pads, although such aids for the disabled are sometimes provided under the National Health Service free of charge.