§ 46. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will conduct an inquiry into the extent of the hardship suffered during the past winter by low-income families unable to provide themselves with adequate heating.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe Government will continue to keep this matter under review but do not consider that there is any evidence to suggest that a special inquiry is necessary. Supplementary benefit heating additions were uprated last November and are now paid to about 1.4 million beneficiaries including over 1 million supplementary pensioners. The Government scheme gave help with winter electricity bills to recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement.