§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the need for a heating allowance is assessed in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe supplementary benefit scale rates include provision for normal heating requirements. However, an addition may be given to a weekly allowance if extra heating is required because of exceptional circumstances. In Northern Ireland the two main factors influencing a decision to allow a supplementary benefit claimant a heating addition are the health of the claimant and his dependants and the condition of the accommodation he occupies. If the mobility of the claimant is seriously restricted by chronic ill health or general frailty or advanced age he will be entitled to a heating addition. He will also qualify for a heating addition if the accommodation he occupies is difficult to heat adequately, because, for example, it is damp, or the rooms are unusually large, or if he is obliged to use an expensive form of heating. A heating addition will also be given if the accommodation occupied is centrally heated.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many retirement pensioners living alone have been granted a heating allowance since 1st October 1976 in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe information is not available in the form requested. However, it is estimated that at 3rd December 777W 1975, the latest date at which information is available, at least 47 per cent. or 10,714 of the 22,795 retirement pensioners living alone who were in receipt of supplementary benefit were also receiving a heating addition.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many families in receipt of supplementary benefit have been granted a heating allowance since 1st October 1976 in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe information is not available in the form requested. However, on 3rd December 1975, which is the most recent date for which figures are available, 29,000 or 28 per cent. of all supplementary benefit claimants in Nor thern Ireland were receiving a heating addition.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the maximum amount which has been granted as a heating allowance to any one person or family in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe information is not available. The Supplementary Benefits Commission has not defined a maximum figure which may be allowed as a heating addition granted on the grounds of health or accommodation difficulties. For such additions three levels, of 70p, £1.40 and £2.10 per week have been determined, and while these additions are considered to be adequate in most cases the highest figure of £2.10 per week may be exceeded in cases where the circumstances are exceptional. In the case of claimants occupying centrally heated accommodation, who automatically receive a special heating allowance, the highest figure for this allowance is £1.40 per week. It may also be exceeded in exceptional circumstances.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of persons in receipt of invalidity benefit in Northern Ireland who have been granted a heating allowance since 1st October 1976.
§ Mr. CarterThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the mini- 778W mum amount which has been granted as a heating allowance in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe minimum amount which has been granted as a heating addition on grounds of health or accommodation difficulties is 70p per week. In the case of centrally heated accommodation, where an extra heating allowance is paid to all claimants of supplementary benefit, the minimum for that allowance would be 35p per week for a claimant occupying only one or two rooms, but such cases are rare.