§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to speed up the payment of pension increases.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIt has been the policy of successive administrations to avoid 71W anomalies by uprating other benefits, and in particular supplementary benefit, at the same time as pensions. The time needed to uprate supplementary benefit cannot be substantially reduced at present because individual reassessments are necessary; although studies are being made of the feasibility of speeding up this operation, it is likely to be some years before we can make any significant improvements.