§ 15. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans for special help with fuel bills for pensioners and others on low incomes in the current year.
§ Mr. NewtonThe supplementary benefit heating additions were increased by 15 per cent. in November in line with the increase in the retail prices index fuel112W component over the period November 1981 to November 1982. Over 2 million households now benefit from this help. We have also improved the arrangements for single payments of supplementary benefit to help people with their heating costs if, as we all hope will not be the case, the weather is exceptionally severe this winter.