§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Prime Minister what representations he has received on behalf of retirement pensioners about the 10 per cent. increase in coal prices due to take effect from 19th January; and what action he intends to take to ensure that elderly people are able to afford the warmth they need during the severe winter months ahead.
§ The Prime MinisterI have received several letters from members of the public on this matter. As my hon. Friend will be aware, retirement pensions and supplementary pensions scale rates were raised in November, 1969, and provided about a fifth more purchasing power than when the Government took office. Supplementary pen-114W sioners also receive the 10s. long-term addition and the Supplementary Benefits Commission continues to pay additional allowances to supplementary pensioners where extra fuel requirements arise because of exceptional circumstances and cannot be met from the long-term addition.