Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits Handbooks – 12 January 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits Handbooks on 12th January 1987.

Mrs. Beckett Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he proposes to publish a revised edition of the supplementary benefits handbook embodying the changes since 1984; (2) what plans he has to publish an income support handbook comparable to the current supplementary benefit handbook; (3) if he has any plans to amend appendix 4 of the supplementary benefits handbook in respect of the welfare responsibilities of his staff.

Mr. Major We have no plans to amend the supplementary benefit handbook before the supplementary benefit scheme is replaced by income support in April 1988. We are currently looking at the whole range of publicity and information produced by the Department in the context of the reforms in the Social Security Act 1986. The question of the publication of an income support handbook will be examined as part of this exercise.