§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of persons who received exceptional needs payments, in the latest 12 months for which figures are available, were retirement pensioners; what were the numbers of persons involved; and what were the 10 most common categories for which such payments were made.
§ Mr. OrmeIn the 12 months ended December 1975, 265,000 exceptional needs payments—28 per cent. of all such payments—were made to pensioners. The six most common categories for which such payments were made were clothing and footwear; bedding; household furniture and equipment; removal expenses; fuel; and house repair and/or decoration. Other information requested is not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.