§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the passport benefits available with (a) family income supplement and (b) supplementary benefit; and if he will show, where possible, the approximate weekly value.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe following is a list of passport benefits available to those receiving either supplementary benefit or family income supplement. Free welfare282W milk is the only one of these benefits for which it is possible to give a weekly value. Individuals' needs for other benefits vary widely. In the case of free school meals, charges are at local authority discretion. For dental and optical charges the cost of actual treatment is given, and for prescription charges the cost of one item, although there may be several items on a prescription list.
£ Free welfare milk, weekly value 1.16 Free vitamin drops for children, per bottle 0.14 Free vitamin tablets for expectant/nursing mothers, per container 0.30 Free school meals—charges at local authority discretion Dental treatment, cost of treatment for full set of dentures 54.00 Extraction—minimum 0.70 Extraction—maximum 8.00 Optical treatment, cost of lens —single vision 2.90 —bifocal 5.50 cost of frames (NHS) from 7.84 to 9.75 Wigs, bespoke 26.50 each stock 9.50 each Fabric supports 7.00 each Prescriptions, cost of one item 0.70 Free hospital fares for outpatients treatment: no estimate possible Free legal aid advice: no estimate possible