§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her Department's latest estimate of the proportion of those entitled to discretionary heating allowances who apply for and receive such allowances.
§ Mr. Alec JonesAs at February 1975, extra heating additions were in payment to 744,000 recipients of supplementary benefit—28 per cent. of all recipients at that time. Since the Supplementary Benefits Commission is not dealing with a 165W static situation there is no way of estimating how many beneficiaries may be entitled to such an addition and do not receive it, but there is no evidence to suggest that the numbers involved are large.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the percentage increase in the discretionary allowances for extra heating since 1st March 1974 is greater or less than the percentage increase in the cost to the domestic consumer of electricity, gas and coal, respectively; and what are the figures.
§ Mr. Alec JonesExtra heating additions are being increased by 371 per cent. with effect from 17th November 1975, giving an overall increase since 1st March 1974 of 83 per cent. The national average percentage increase in the cost of domestic electricity, gas and coal, including price increases announced but not yet implemented, is as follows:
Domestic electricity … 87 per cent. Domestic gas … 12 per cent. Domestic coal … 59 per cent. (41 per cent. with summer discount)