§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of supplementary pensioners in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) the Huddersfield area who have received increases of less than £1.75 per week as a result of cuts to their heating allowances; and what is the average deduction involved.
§ Mr. WhitneyOf the areas listed, reliable estimates of the increases in benefit received by supplementary pensioners at the general uprating this November could be obtained only for Yorkshire and Humberside and then only at disproportionate cost. Supplementary benefit heating additions were increased from 26 November in line with the rise in fuel prices over the year to last May, although we decided that it would be reasonable to increase to £1, and reapply to heating additions, the available scale margin deduction from weekly payments for special needs given to people receiving the higher long-term rate of supplementary benefit. The reasons for this decision are set out in the reply given by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 27 November at column468.