§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit recipients have been awarded, over and above the long-term addition, a heating allowance at the rates 304W of 30p, 60p and 90p per week, respectively, or at the older rates of 25p, 50p and 75p if that is the latest information available; how many of these in each case are pensioners; and how many below pensionable age.
§ Mr. DeanInformation about the numbers of supplementary beneficiaries receiving an addition to benefit including provision for exceptional heating based on the rates of 30p, 60p and 90p per week respectively is not expected to be available until May 1973. The latest information available, which relates to November 1971 when the previous rates of 25p. 50p and 75p applied, is as follows:
In thousands 25p 50p 75p Other rates Total All beneficiaries 138 46 4 6 194 Supplementary pensioner 115 38 2 4 159 Beneficiaries under pension age 23 8 1 3 35 "Other rates" cover, in general, central heating charges. In all these cases at least some addition is made over and above the long-term addition. Cases in which the whole of the exceptional heating expenses are covered by the long-term addition are not recorded