HC Deb 02 February 1970 vol 795 cc21-2W
82. Mr. Thorpe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give assistance to those retirement pensioners whose doctors certify the need for them to have a telephone to summon medical assistance, in cases where the pensioner is unable to meet the financial cost of installation and rental of a telephone.

Mr. Ennals

Where a telephone is an essential need for a person receiving a supplementary pension, whose resources are otherwise insufficient, the Supplementary Benefits Commission may use its general discretionary powers to provide additional benefit for the purpose. In deciding the degree of need in an individual case any recommendation made by the person's doctor, is, of course, taken into account.