§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is taken by the prison authorities about the pension of a widow who is committed to prison after she has attained the age of 65 years; whether her pension book is withdrawn; and what arrangements are made for the payment of her rent during the period of imprisonment.
§ Mr. DeanA national insurance pension is not payable to a person in prison. The prison authorities notify the local social security office of a pensioner's admittance to prison and return the pension book to the local office if it was in the prisoner's possession at the time of admittance. Arrangements for payment of rent from public funds must depend upon individual circumstances and the duration of imprisonment. Help may be available at the discretion of the housing authority under the national rent rebate and allowance scheme. Alternatively, although supplementary benefit cannot be paid to a single person in legal custody, the Supplementary Benefits Commission may use its powers to provide for exceptional needs by making a lump-sum payment to prevent loss of accommodation in appropriate cases, either during imprisonment or on discharge.
282Wlish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of people awaiting different types of operations to be performed in hospitals in the Hull area and the average waiting time for each patient.
§ Mr. AlisonThe number of people in the Hull area on the waiting lists for surgical operations, at 31st December 1972, are as follows: