Harold Wilson is my daddy
Sir: In your leading article (27 September) Mr Ennals, Minister of State (Social Security) at the Department of Health and Social Security is misreported. Mr Ennals did not say hehad given instructions, he said that instructions had been given, to refuse benefit to people from 144 Piccadilly. These instructions were issued by the Supple- mentary Benefits Commission before Mr Ennals made his statement.
Such instructions can of course only be given by the Commission, nor do they run counter to the entitlement to benefits pro- vided by the Ministry of Social Security Act.
The instructions given by the Commission related to the particular situation, which did not in fact materialise, that substantial numbers from this address might demand immediate payments at the Westminster local office of the Department. Long before this particular situation, the Commission had determined that entitlement does not confer any right to immediate payment over the counter ; although payment would be made where urgent need was established. This decision is based on two considerations —to prevent abuse of the scheme and to enable people at the counter who are in genuine and urgent need to be paid much more quickly than if people not in urgent need had to be paid as well. These arrange- ments are matters of administrative proce- dure not of entitlement. So far however as entitlement is concerned the Commission has power to reduce, or to withhold, a supple- mentary allowance where there are excep- tional circumstances. This power is not new, it is in the Act and similar powers existed under National Assistance legislation. There is no question therefore of a volte-face in official policy.
Richard Hayward Chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, 10 John Adam Street, London, wc2
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