§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Energy what concessions he is making for retirement pensioners in respect of their electricity bills in the forthcoming winter.
§ Mr. BennI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Campbell) on 17th November.—[Vol. 919, c. 595–6.] Retirement pensioners who are on supplementary benefit will be eligible for a discount on bills from electricity boards.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the total cost of administering the £25 million electricity discount scheme for consumers in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement which he announced on 2nd August.
§ Mr. BennThe precise amount will depend on the number of beneficiaries, but it is expected to be in the neighbourhood of £2.5 million.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Energy what calculation he has made of the number of persons who will benefit under the electricity discount scheme; and how many are retirement pensioners.
§ Mr. BennApproximately 2¾ million people on supplementary benefit and family income supplement may be eligible for the discount. Of these, about 1½ million will be over pensionable age and receiving a national insurance pension.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the number of households who will receive benefit under the electricity discount scheme where the weekly income of the household is more than, respectively, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65, and £70, including all earned income and social security benefit in cash and kind.
§ Mr. BennThis depends on the number of households with these incomes 821W who may be in receipt of supplementary benefit and family income supplement.