§ Q14. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister why the Government have decided to alter the principle on which the retail price index is applied to supplementary pensions.
§ The Prime MinisterAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services explained to the House on 10 March, the supplementary benefit scale rates are intended to cover all normal living expenses other than housing costs, which are met separately. We have, therefore, made this change to avoid double counting of housing costs.