§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many local authorities are charging supplementary pensioners for home help services;
(2) how many local authorities have changed their policy concerning flat-rate charges for home help services, following 538W insurance fund and (b) the amount of tht surplus transferred to the consolidated fund.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe annual excess or deficit of income over expenditure in the national insurance fund on the bases requested is as follows:
the Supplementary Benefit Commission's decision to withdraw extra benefits from home helps and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeDetailed information about the numbers of local authorities changing their policy concerning flat rate charges for home help services, following the Supplementary Benefits Commission's decision to withdraw extra benefits for home helps, is not available centrally. The Supplementary Benefits Commission has made clear its view that local authorities should exercise their discretionary powers to make charges in such a way as to waive charges for people living at supplementary benefit level, or at least so that any charges levied do not impose hardship on such clients.