HC Deb 03 March 1969 vol 779 cc22-3
15. Mr. Costain

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to assist the elderly in paying the £20 telephone installation charge which is causing hardship.

Mr. Pentland

Where the installation of a telephone is essential, the Supplementary Benefits Commission is prepared to consider assisting a supplementary pensioner with the expenses if he cannot meet them from his own resources.

Mr. Costain

Would the Parliamentary Secretary explain what is meant by "essential"? Does he appreciate that a large number of elderly people are willing to go on living on their own as long as they are provided with the means of communication? Will he give publicity to what he means by "essential"?

Mr. Pentland

Yes, Sir. Individual cases are considered on their merits, and if any hon. Member, including the hon. Gentleman, knows of a case which he thinks should qualify, he need only write to me or to the Supplementary Benefits Commission for the case to be thoroughly considered.

Mr. Leadbitter

Is my hon. Friend aware that that is most unsatisfactory? Does he appreciate that the House is entitled to know what is meant by "essential" in this context, that to say that each case is considered on its merits gets us nowhere and that it is time that we looked after these old people properly, both from the point of view of telephone installations and television supplementary allowances?

Mr. Pentland

Without going into the matter too deeply, the criteria applied by the Supplementary Benefits Commission is that a claimant for a telephone is living alone, is housebound and relies entirely on the telephone as his means of contacting relatives or friends, and that he would be dangerously isolated without a telephone. Sympathetic consideration is always given in cases of this kind. I must, therefore, give my hon. Friend the same reply and urge him, if he has any cases in mind, to bring them to our notice.

Dame Irene Ward

How many applications have there been? How many have been accepted? When the Under-Secretary refers to people being entirely dependent on the telephone, do I assume that he has wiped out the Post Office, because that is very interesting to all of us?

Mr. Pentland

I cannot, without notice, give the numbers. If the hon. Lady will table a Question, I will do my best to answer.