§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy why it is not practicable for his Department, as indicated in reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South on 26th October, to avoid duplicate payments if the electricity discount scheme were extended to people in receipt of attendance allowance.
§ Mr. EadieThe issue of payments of £5 to all regular recipients of supplementary benefit (SB) and family income supplements (FIS) for the week of 16th January 1978 and of discount vouchers to those recipients who get electricity bills in excess of £20 will be made by Post Office staff on the evidence of benefit documents. Recipients of attendance allowance include a number who also get SB but it is not possible for the Post Office staff to identify those who do so as to avoid making duplicate payments.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those categories of people mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South on 26th October who are recipients of non-means-tested benefits and who have the same need for extra heating as those who are so severely disabled that they are entitled to attendance allowance; and if he will make a further statement.
§ Mr. EadieThe relative needs of particular groups of people for extra heating are taken into account in assessing the need for and amount of supplementary benefit. The electricity discount scheme is not directly related to the need for heat regardless of income, but is intended to help the poorest households to meet the cost of electricity.