§ 63. Mr. Willeyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make provision for the heating allowance to be paid to all those in receipt of a supplementary pension.
§ Mr. DeanNo. The normal heating costs of supplementary pensioners are provided for in the supplementary benefit scale rates. In addition they receive the 285W long-term addition of 50p a week. The heating allowances to which the right hon. Gentleman refers are discretionary additions which the Supplementary Benefits Commission is authorised by the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966, to provide only in exceptional circumstances and to the extent that a claimant's need for extra heating, which may arise from ill health or bad accommodation, is not covered by the long-term addition.