HC Deb 26 October 1976 vol 918 c121W
47. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now reintroduce the pensioners' £10 Christmas bonus.

Mr. Orme

No. A bonus payment is bound to be arbitrary in coverage, and to exclude many deserving groups. A general increase in benefits, such as will take place next month, is a better and fairer method of distributing the resources which are available.