§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek 610W to arrange for a concessionary reduced rent for telephones for people aged 70 years and over.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAs my hon. Friend will appreciate, telephone tariffs are a matter for the Post Office. The Government are very conscious of the difficulties that face elderly people with regard not only to telephone charges but also rising prices generally. The action the Government have taken to help elderly people to meet rising prices is to increase pensions five times since we took office in 1974. Our aim in increasing cash provisions has been to help elderly people to chose their own priorities.
Local authorities have the power to help elderly people with the cost of telephone rentals, and in certain cases, if a local authority is satisfied that a telephone is necessary, it is under a duty to give this form of help.