To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance he has given to local offices about benefit payments to families of service men in the Gulf.

Several instructions have gone to local offices on this subject. In particular we have emphasised the importance of giving help quickly and sympathetically to people who are likely to be in stressful circumstances.

My general impression is that local offices have dealt sympathetically and sensitively with those in emergency, straitened circumstances arising from the Gulf. Is the special allocation which was available in September likely still be be available to those who now come back in special straitened circumstances of one kind or another?

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his opening remarks. I, too, pay tribute to the work of our local offices and the central office at North Fylde, which deals with war pensions claims. It is a matter of satisfaction to us all.

I am not absolutely clear what the hon. Gentleman has in mind with his latter point, but he must mean the special arrangements that we made in respect of assistance with travel and resettlement for people returning from the Gulf in the immediate aftermath of the Iraqi invasion. Those arrangements remain in place.