§ 6. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study she has made of the number of elderly people who are dependent on electrical central heating; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the supplementary benefit allowance for heating keeps pace with the cost.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe Family Expenditure Survey indicates that approximately one-sixth of pensioner households rely on electricity as their only form of fuel. All normal requirements, including heating, are covered by the supplementary benefit scale rates. These were increased in the week commencing 7th April 1975. A further increase has been promised before the end of the year.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes my hon. Friend accept that even if he supports the debatable economic pricing policies there are special problems as more and more elderly people are housed by local authorities and become increasingly dependent on electric central heating? Whatever may be the general level of inflation as it affects heating costs, may I ask him to ensure that the supplementary benefit allowance for heating keeps pace with the real increase in such costs which have to be faced by these people?
§ Mr. JonesI am sure that we would all want to do everything possible to help the category of people described. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the commission is at present reviewing the extra heating addition to try to deal with this special problem.
§ Mr. PowellWill the Minister encourage the offices of his Department to be in contact locally with the advisory services of the appropriate electricity board so that advice can be given and steps taken to prevent what often happens, to the great distress of elderly tenants—namely, the piling up of unnecessary bills for electric heating?
§ Mr. JonesThe right hon. Gentleman is quite right. It is necessary to have the fullest co-operation between local offices of the Department and electricity boards, gas boards and other organisations.
§ Mr. DempseyDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that no matter what allowance is arranged by the Supplementary Benefits Commission it is always well below the average cost of heating, especially for old folk? Will he say whether the review will apply not only to electricity but to gas and a solid fuel known as coal where I come from? Will he also consider that as Scotland has a much colder climate than the South the Government might be a bit more generous towards it?
§ Mr. JonesI can assure my hon. Friend that the review of extra heating additions to which I referred applies to gas as well as to electricity and certainly to Scotland, England and Wales.
§ Mr. BoscawenWill the Minister go further and give an undertaking that he will do something about this situation before next winter? Is he aware that despite the fact that supplementary benefits 217 have been increased by 15½ per cent. this month they are already beginning to fall behind the rise in the cost of living and the rate of national average earnings? Will he ensure that something is done before next winter to help pensioners who must rely upon heating the cost of which is above the average?
§ Mr. JonesI must make it clear that the review to which I referred was not a review of the normal supplementary benefit rates but was a review of the levels of the extra heating additions needed in the type of case referred to. At the moment it would be unwise to anticipate the outcome of the commission's review.