§ Mr. McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that ex-miners who are in receipt of concessionary coal and supplementary benefits are being penalised financially, in relation to the disregard system operated by his Department, when they have to change to a system of being paid a cash allowance in lieu of concessionary coal, which results in increased expenditure and reduced income; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanThe receipt of concessionary coal itself is ignored completely under a traditional discretionary arrangement, dating from National Assistance days, which the Supplementary Benefits Commission would be reluctant to disturb; but the Commission has not thought it right to extend this special concession to66W payments made to ex-miners in cash, which it considers should be treated under the Ministry of Social Security Act in the same way as cash payments made to other people. Up to £1 a week of the total of such payments is disregarded.