§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total sum paid out by his Department in each of the last five years in extra heating allowances for recipients of supplementary benefit; and how this annual sum was apportioned between the three levels of allowance.
§ Mr. EnnalsI regret that the information requested is not available. Supplementary benefit entitlement is the difference between a claimant's resources and his requirements, including any extra heating. The amount of benefit paid out may be less than the amount for extra heating allowed in the assessment, and it is, therefore, not possible to say how much of the annual expenditure on supplementary benefits is attributable to extra heating allowances.