§ Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, when benefit claim books are being replaced, he will arrange for a letter to be included to advise benefit recipients of the special payment that may be claimed for exceptional fuel costs.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAbout 64 per cent. of supplementary benefit claimants are paid by order book. The proposed advice would not reach many of the people who might need it. Because order books are normally renewed every426W six months, any information inserted in them now would only reach many claimants after the period when unusually high fuel costs are likely to be incurred.
Other means of drawing attention to help with additional heating costs were referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 21 January.—[Vol. 16, c. 170.] In this I gave details of measures being taken to publicise the assistance available.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many have so far made claims under the single payments regulations for assistance this winter to pay their fuel bills in (a) the Walsall area, (b) the West Midlands region and (c) the United Kingdom as a whole; how many more are expected to do so; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere is no information yet available on claims made under regulation 26 of the Supplementary Benefits (Single Payments) Regulations. However, I have asked for statistics to be collected and will write to the hon. Member when they become available.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those who have applied under the single payments regulations for assistance this winter to pay their fuel bills have been refused because of savings in excess of £300; and how many have been refused payment because of savings between £300 and £400, £400 and £500, and £500 and £600.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that this information is not available.