§ Mr. E. Williamsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that area officers of the Assistance Board in South Wales have refused to grant winter allowance to old age pensioners in receipt of supplementary payments; and as this is a breach of past practice in this regard and of an undertaking given to the House of Commons, whether instructions will be issued to area officers to grant winter allowances to purchase coal during the winter months?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe basis on which winter additions are given by the Assistance Board has been explained in the reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke (Mr. E. Smith) on 4th December, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. The Board assure me that all cases in South Wales have been duly considered on the basis so described and that winter allowances have been given whenever the circumstances required. There has been no breach of any undertaking given to the House.
Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Health the number of applications for supplementary pensions in the administrative county of Durham, the number granted, and the average amount paid?
§ Miss HorsbrughI am having such figures as are available extracted and will send them to my hon. Friend.