§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the assistance available in each of the other member States of the EEC to help poor consumers with their fuel bills.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAll member States of the EEC have schemes of social assistance for persons in financial need but, so far as I am aware, only two apart from the United Kingdom have provision specifically to help with fuel bills.
In Germany persons with low resources may be paid a cash sum towards heating expenses. The amount payable, and the
742Wfigures for 1960, 1970 and the latest year for which figures are available, showing the total number of people employed in the National Health Service, and distinguishing between medical staff, administrative or clerical staff and manual workers.
§ Sir George YoungIt is not possible to answer the question in the precise form requested because of lack of information for 1960 and 1970 and problems of coverage and comparability. The earliest year for which a realistic comparison of the staff groups in question can be made is 1971; the latest year for which comparable information for all the staff groups is available is 1977. The attached table sets out the information for these two years.
income limit for entitlement, varies according to the size of the household.
In the Irish Republic a prescribed amount of electricity or of bottled gas can be supplied free to certain social security beneficiaries.