§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the case of retirement pensioners in receipt of supplementary benefits, he will recommend that the Supplementary Benefits Commission cover the cost of central heating where this is provided automatically, irrespective of the wishes of the pensioner.
§ Mr. DeanUp to £1 a week of a charge for central heating incurred by a supplementary pensioner is attributed to the basic scale rate. The Supplementary Benefits Commission makes a special addition to cover the excess of the charge over £1 to the extent that it cannot be met from the long-term addition of 50p a week or any disregarded income the pensioner may have.