HC Deb 10 December 1985 vol 88 c608W
55. Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the action he intends to take to seek to prevent old people dying from hypothermia.

Mr. Newton

The Government provide considerable help with the heating costs of the least well off through weekly rates of supplementary benefit. Many elderly people and others who may need to spend more on heating also receive extra weekly help known as heating additions. Spending on these has risen to some £400 million in the last financial year—£140 million more in real terms than in 1978–79. All heating additions were uprated again recently. We have indicated that expenditure on heating additions would be included in the income support scheme proposed in the Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security", and that the pattern of such additions would be taken into account in setting the income support premiums for pensioners and other groups such as the disabled.

In addition to cash help, it is important that elderly people and those who care for them should know the best ways to combat the effects of cold. The Department has co-operated with the Health Education Council in producing "Warmth in Winter", a leaflet containing simple, practical advice on keeping warm. In addition, a pack of information and training materials on this subject for those in contact with elderly people is being developed by the Council and will be available next year.