§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of those persons eligible have made use of the electricity discount scheme since it came into operation on 5th January up to 31st March last; what funds were set aside for the scheme; and how much of this has been taken up.
§ Mr. BennVirtually all the 3.2 million recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement received the £5 paid towards electricity and other fuel costs in January. Up to 31st March the number claiming the discount also available on electricity board bills over £20 was about 420,000. This represents less than half of those able to claim but the number of people eligible receiving such bills is not known precisely. £25 million was allocated to the scheme and some £20 million has been taken up so far.