§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Energy why retirement pensioners who chose rent rebate instead of supplementary benefit are excluded from his winter quarter electricity discount scheme.
§ Dr. John A. CunninghamPeople who might qualify for supplementary benefit but who have chosen rent rebates because they are thus better off than on supplementary benefit are free to change to supplementary benefit instead if they think that the electricity discount will make it worth their while to do so.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Energy why he has not confined his winter quarter electricity discount scheme to the consumption of electricity.
§ Dr. John A. CunninghamThe discount is to be given only on the charges arising from the consumption of electricity.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Energy why retirement pensioners 23W whose total income is at supplementary benefit level due to small occupational pensions are excluded from his winter quarter electricity discount scheme.
§ Dr. John A. CunninghamThe scheme is intended to include everybody who is able to claim supplementary benefit and who pays directly to an electricity board. Since £1 of any occupational pension is disregarded in assessing a claimant's resources, an occupational pensioner whose actual income exactly equalled his requirements for supplementary benefit purposes could claim this benefit and so become eligible for the electricity discount.