HC Deb 04 December 1967 vol 755 c207W
1. Mr. William Price

asked the Minister of Social Security, whether, in future, she will increase supplementary benefits at the same time as she increases old age pensions.

Mrs. Hart

The dates on which supplementary benefits are increased in the future must depend on the circumstances of the time.

12. Mr. Marquand

asked the Minister of Social Security, whether the Supplementary Benefits Commission has adopted the recommendation of the working party on the place of voluntary service in after-care, regarding the payment of fares for the visiting of prisoners by their families.

Mr. Pentland

Before the Working Party reported, the Supplementary Benefits Commission had already decided that close relatives receiving Supplementary Benefit should be helped to visit prisoners at two-monthly, instead of the previous quarterly, intervals where the sentence exceeds three months. The Commission have always been prepared to meet the cost of an overnight stay, and of taking children, where necessary.