HC Deb 08 May 1973 vol 856 cc182-4
5. Mr. Roger White

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ask the Supplementary Benefits Commission to consider making grants for the installation of all-night heaters for pensioners.

13. Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ask the Supplementary Benefits Commission to consider making grants for the installation of all-night storage heaters for penioners.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Paul Dean)

The commission can already make payments for this purpose under its discretionary powers.

Mr. White

I acknowledge my hon. Friend's reply and the Government's concern for pensioners, particularly during inclement weather, but will he give the House further information about the availability of electric blankets for elderly people who suffer from low temperatures?

Mr. Dean

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that suggestion, although it may involve safety problems. I am sure that the whole House welcomes the practical suggestions that my hon. Friend has made. A number of considerations are now being actively looked into by the Government, local authorities and voluntary organisations in an effort to try to find a variety of ways to improve heating arrangements for elderly people.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

How many old people will die as a result of the Government's refusal last week to allow more discussion of a Bill that would have given heating allowances to all the old people who are at risk? Is not the real problem the hypocrisy of the Government in pursuing this subject piecemeal?

Mr. Dean

I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman feels it right to use emotive language on such a serious subject. He must know that the Government, with the help of local authorities and voluntary bodies, have done far more than have any other Government to deal with this deep-seated problem.

Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that night storage heaters are a particularly safe form of heating for the elderly? When he is next in discussion with the Chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, will he bear in mind the maxim that a word to the wise is sufficient?

Mr. Dean

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, but she will appreciate that the powers of the commission are fairly limited in this respect but substantial powers are available to local authorities. About 400,000 additional people will benefit from the improved heating arrangements which the Government intend to introduce before next winter.

Mr. O'Malley

Bearing in mind that the system of heating allowances through the commission is still inadequate in spite of the changes recently announced by the Government, and that the commission has discretion to make grants, will the hon. Gentleman ensure that the commission's discretion is more generously exercised than it is at present?

Mr. Dean

Yes, I assure the hon. Gentleman that the commission is very exercised on this matter. Not only is it doing, and intending to do, all it can to assist more people, but it is also working in close co-operation with local authorities and voluntary organisations which are also doing a great deal to improve the arrangements.