§ 41. Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services if she will take steps to ensure that heating allowances paid to recipients of supplementary benefits are increased to take account of increased costs of electricity, gas and coal.
§ Mr. O'MalleyProvision for normal heating requirements is included in the supplementary benefit scale rates which are, subject to parliamentary approval, being increased as from April next. The Supplementary Benefits Commission is keeping under review the level of extra heating additions which are payable where there are exceptional circumstances, such as ill-health or sub-standard accommodation. These additions were increased by one-third in July 1974.