§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the lengths of time which elapse before benefits are reduced for a pensioner resident in hospital. [77852]
§ Malcolm WicksWe have already announced our intentions to extend the length of time certain benefit recipients, including pensioners, may stay in hospital before their benefits are reduced. For these people the period will be extended from six weeks to 13 weeks and we hope to introduce this to coincide with the introduction of the State Pension Credit.