§ 21. Mr. McNallyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to take steps to make the pensioners' Christmas bonus inflation-proof.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo. The Pensioners' Payments and Social Security Act 1979 already enables a bonus of more than £10 to be paid in future years, if the Secretary of State of the day considers it appropriate, having regard to the economic situation, the standard of living and other relevant matters.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of the Christmas bonus to pensioners; and how many and which categories of pensioners are entitled to receive it.
§ Mr. PrenticeOver 10 million people in the United Kingdom were entitled to this year's £10 Christmas bonus, at a cost of about £108 million. Those entitled—or treated as entitled—to payment of the following benefits in week beginning 3 December were eligible to receive the bonus:
- retirement pension
- invalidity pension
- widow's allowance
- widowed mother's allowance
- widow's pension
- non-contributory invalidity pension
- invalid care allowance
- industrial death benefit—by way of widow's or widower's pension
- attendance allowance—Including constant attendance allowance under the industrial injuries or war pensions schemes
- Unemployability supplement or allowance
- war disablement pension if the pensioner was in receipt of a qualifying benefit or was over pension able age and retired
- supplementary pension
A further bonus was payable in respect of a spouse over pension able age, if an increase of one of the above benefits was payable in respect of that spouse.