§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans she has to advise local social security offices about common expenditure figures on which to base additional heating help for persons accommodated in local authority housing with prearranged heating systems of high cost.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI assume the hon. Member has in mind recipients of supplementary benefit occupying centrally heated accommodation. Where there is a prearranged charge for central heating, for example, in an inclusive rent, the Supplementary Benefits Commission makes an extra heating addition based on the actual charge. In other cases extra heating additions are made, and existing additions are being progressively reassessed at standard rates related to the number of rooms occupied.