§ Mr. Clifford Forsytheasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ask the area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland to make greater provision for compensation for retirement pensioners and supplementary benefit claimants whose windows have been vandalised and who cannot afford to replace them.
§ Mr. Chris PattenHealth and social services boards in Northern Ireland already have general powers under the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 to provide persons in need with assistance in kind or, in exceptional circumstances constituting an emergency, in cash. These powers are used infrequently in cases such as described by the hon. Gentleman as boards usually have regard to a person's eligibility for receiving654W help from other statutory sources such as the supplementary benefits scheme or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.