§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the increase in the exceptional needs payment for fuel bills and by direct deduction on last year.
§ Mr. OrmeInformation about the position as at December 1975 will be available later this year but information relating to previous years, for purposes of comparison, is not available and could not be obtained without undue cost.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount deducted from supplementary benefit for those whose gas and electricity bills are being paid through direct deduction.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently paying for gas and electricity through direct deduction from their supplementary benefits.
§ Mr. OrmeThe most recent date for which information is available is December 1975 when the number was about 35,000.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount spent by means of exceptional needs payment to clear or partially clear outstanding fuel bills.
§ Mr. OrmeI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend the former Under-Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 15th March.—[Vol. 907, c.429.]
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§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost to the Supplementary Benefits Commission of action taken to reconnect disconnected gas and electricity to domestic consumers or to keep the supplies connected.