§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the hardship caused to people on invalidity pension by increases in food prices; if he will consider methods by which the butter subsidy can be paid to such persons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanThe Government recognise that price increases bear hardest on people with limited income such as invalidity pensioners, and are pledged to ensure, through annual reviews, that social security benefits are increased at least in line with price increases. I am confident that the increase in invalidity pension from 1st October has in fact246W more than compensated for the rise in prices since the previous increase. Pensioners who also received an invalidity allowance have had a further substantial increase in that allowance.
The EEC regulation under which the social butter subsidy is paid limits eligibility to people receiving means-tested benefits, and invalidity pensioners are thus entitled to the subsidy if they are also receiving supplementary benefit.