§ Mr. James Dempseyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what instructions have been given to local offices of the National Assistance Board as regards the giving of an extra weekly allowance during the winter to meet the cost of extra fuel.
§ Mr. PentlandThe Board's local officers make allowances for the cost of extra fuel in the weekly grants of recipients where expenditure on heating needs to be above the normal level, because, for example, of poor health, or the type of accommodation occupied. In December, 1963, they were making provision of this kind in nearly 500,000 cases.
In addition, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11th November last during his Budget statement, the National Assistance Board is making a special grant this winter to all people over retirement age who are receiving National Assistance—apart from those in hospital and in Old People's Homes—and to others who are likely to need extra heating. The amount of this special grant is, as my right hon. Friend stated in the House on 16th November, £4.