§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the increased telephone charges, he will alter the sums of money available in supplementary benefit for single pensioners living at home for whom the telephone is needed in an emergency.
§ Mr. NewtonLocal authorities have powers to assist with the provision of telephones for elderly and disabled people. In the supplementary benefit scheme, the scale rates are intended to relate to all items of normal expenditure in day-to-day living and there is no separate provision for telephones. We have no plans to introduce such a provision.