HC Deb 22 February 1978 vol 944 cc729-30W
Mr. Bradford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider adjusting supplementary benefit legislation to enable every retirement pensioner, or couples who are retirement pensioners who do not have any additional income, to qualify for supplementary benefit.

Mr. Orme

No. It is the Government's aim to reduce dependency on supplementary benefit and the new pension scheme which comes into operation in April will help to do this in the longer-term.