§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what additional help he proposes to give to retirement pensioners to meet rising fuel costs, particularly since the 10 per cent. increase in coal prices due to take effect from 19th January;
(2) what proposals he has to enable retirement pensioners to meet increased fuel costs in the light of the 10 per cent. increase in the cost of coal due to take effect from 19th January; and what is the estimated cost of these proposals in a financial year.
§ Mr. EnnalsI would remind my hon. Friend that retirement pension together with other National Insurance benefits and the supplementary benefit scale rates were substantially increased only last November and are now worth, in terms of purchasing power, about a fifth more than in October, 1964.