§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he plans to give any extra help to people on supplementary benefit to help with their fuel bills; how many people he expects to help; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will extend additional heating payments to all pensioners, people on supplementary benefit and those in receipt of rent and rate rebates and rent allowances.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) yesterday.—[Vol. 16, c.186.] I cannot say how many supplementary benefit claimants might be entitled to special payments because of the severe weather.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will secure commercial time on independent television to advertise the availability of the additional assistance under the Supplementary Benefits Single Payments Regulations 1981 for those persons, including pensioners, in receipt of supplementary benefit who are faced by substantial heating bill increases due to inclement weather.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 21 January—[Vol. 16, c.170]—in which I gave details of the measures being taken to publicise the assistance available.