§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to make further regulations under the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 defining the circumstances in which a contributor might satisfy the contribution conditions for pension by taking into account years when she was precluded 280W from regular employment by responsibilities at home.
§ Mr. OrmeNo such regulations have yet been made, but we shall at the appropriate time lay regulations defining the circumstances in which a contributor will be treated as being precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received as to the proposed date of the 1976 pension increase; and if he will bring the pension increase date forward to enable pensioners to have additional resources to purchase fuel at the cheaper summer rate.
§ Mr. OrmeWe have received about 80 representations in the form of letters on this subject. The timing of an uprating of social security benefits takes into account a number of factors including the period needed to reassess individually supplementary benefit payments; and there is no possibility of bringing forward the proposed date of the 1976 increases in such a way as to achieve the specific objective as regards the purchase of fuel suggested by my hon. Friend.