§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if Her Majesty's Government regard persons living at the supplementary benefit level as living in poverty.
§ Mr. WhitneyAs I explained to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 23 November at c.325, there is no generally accepted definition of poverty. The purpose of the supplementary benefit scheme is to bring a person's resources up to his or her requirements as laid down in regulations approved by Parliament.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the weekly fixed sum for heating above which a household in receipt of supplementary benefit will receive additional housing benefit where their landlord makes a fixed charge for the provision of full space heating within their rent;
(2) what is the weekly fixed sum for heating currently available to households, in receipt of the long term basic scale rate of supplementary benefit, excluding any additional requirements, where there is no fixed charge in their rent for heating, comprising (a) one adult, (b) two adults and (c) two adults and one child aged under 10 years.
§ Mr. WhitneyThere is no specific amount for heating or any other item in the supplementary benefit scale rates. It is generally for claimants themselves to decide how to spend their benefit. Where, however, householders receiving supplementary benefit are obliged to pay a fixed charge with their rent for full space heating, they are entitled to a rebate or allowance for the amount, if any, by which the charge exceeds £6.25 a week.