§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what publicity is being given to retirement pensioners concerning heating allowance, in view of the fact that during a survey conducted by Age Concern 75 per cent. of retirement pensioners did not know their rights.
§ Mr. Deakins:Heating additions payable under the supplementary benefits scheme are currently received by over half of all supplementary pensioners. The Supplementary Benefits Commission is concerned that everyone who is eligible should get one, and it is studying as part of the review of the whole scheme the various forms of help with heating 752W costs and their effectiveness. The help available is set out in the Supplementary Benefits Handbook, of which a new edition was published in May, and in the leaflet OS2 "Help with Heating Costs", which has just been revised. Half a million copies of the new version of the leaflet are being printed and will be distributed next month.