§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have claimed assistance with heating costs as laid out in Leaflet O.C.2; and if she will give estimates of those that might require assistance, but who have failed to claim.
§ Mr. MeacherThe need for an extra heating addition is automatically considered as part of the process of dealing with every claim to supplementary benefit. There are about 5 million claims each year but many of these are short term. Of the 2.7 million recipients of supplementary pensions and allowances in May 1975, about 800,000 were receiving extra heating additions. It is provisionally estimated that the number receiving such additions had by December 1975 risen to 970,000. No estimate is possible of the number who might require such help but are not receiving it.
§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will give details of the distribution to the public of the Leaflet O.C.2, Help with Heating Costs; what other methods she has used to draw public attention to 753W assistance with heating costs; and what was the cost of this publicity to public funds;
(2) how many copies of the Leaflet OC2, Help with Heating Costs, have been printed in the last 12 months; and if she is satisfied that each Department of Health and Social Security office has an adequate supply.
§ Mr. Meacher300,000 copies of Leaflet OC2 have been printed in the last 12 months to supply both my Department's local offices and professional and voluntary organisations. There will be no limitation of reprints. The printing cost this year has been £2,235.
In seeking every opportunity to publicise the help available I and my hon. Friends and officials of my Department have appeared on television and radio both nationally and locally. In addition, information and leaflets giving advice on coping with fuel bills are available from the nationalised fuel industries.