§ Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make an estimate of the national average weekly amount that the retirement pensioner spends on rent;
(2) if he will make an estimate of the national average weekly amount that the retirement pensioner spends on heating and light.
§ Mr. DeanThe amounts paid by retirement pensioners for rent, heating and light vary according to household composition and the type of tenure of housing to an extent which means that no meaningful averages can be calculated. As regards rent, however, the great majority of retirement pensioners who receive supplementary pensions have their rents taken into account in full in the calculation of their requirements; and movements in the cost of heating and lighting are among the factors taken into account when retirement and supplementary pension rates are reviewed.