Is it policy of his department for people who make applications to the Income Support Service for emergency assistance required urgently to be given appointments for the assessment of that application to be held at the next available time with their customer services officer, regardless of whether the next available time is one or more days away; if so, why; if not, what is the policy?"

"It is the policy for people in emergency situations to be seen immediately by Income Support staff. Appointments are made where the matter being raised is not an emergency situation."