§ Mr. Porter asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will take special measures to assist war pensioners, especially those of them who are now unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the effect that the war pension has on such persons' application for supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Rossi:The Government remain fully committed to protecting the interests of war pensioners, and the rates of pension are being increased in November. We have no proposals for special measures for war pensioners who are unemployed. In assessing entitlement to supplementary benefit, up to £4 a week of a war pension is disregarded, subject to an overall maximum disregard of £4 a week for miscellaneous income. In addition, any constant attendance allowance paid with a war pension is disregarded completely.