asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to ensure that the regulations made under the Social Security Act 1980 concerning the immigration status of would-be supplementary benefit claimants are applied consistently as between different social security offices.

The existing instructions to staff in supplementary benefit offices on the handling of claims to supplementary benefit from people from abroad have recently been revised. The advice they contain on immigration status has been clarified, and this will help to ensure consistency of approach at local level.