§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the percentage of the total amount of supplementary benefits paid in the last financial year to the following categories, 281W namely, pensioners, with or without retirement pension, employment exchange applicants, sick applicants, widows, liable relative applicants and miscellaneous applicants, respectively.
§ Mr. DeanThe estimated expenditure on the various groups of beneficiary in the financial year 1969–70 is given below:
Category Amount Per cent. of Total £m. Supplementary Pensions 226 48.0 Supplementary Allowances to: Unemployed 74 15.7 Sick 74 15.7 Widows 8.5 1.8 Women with care of children* 82 17.4 Others 6.5 1.4 471 100 * It is not possible to say how much was paid in each category in cases where a relative was liable to support the beneficiary, but most of the expenditure in the category "Women with care of children" was in respect of such cases.
§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the increased cost of fuel, he will raise the element allowed for fuel from the present average rate of 5s. weekly to recipients of supplementary benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanOrdinary provision for fuel is included in the supplementary benefit scale rates which are to be increased from 2nd November. It is not possible to say how much of the scale rates is appropriate to fuel or any other one item of expenditure. People's needs and preferences vary, and the scale rates provide an amount to meet all ordinary living expenses which people can spend in the way that suits them best. Where a person needs extra heating, and this cannot be met from the long-term addition paid to old people and other long-term cases, the Supplementary Benefits Commission has power to make additional payments which are linked to the price of house coal in the area.