§ Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any intention of raising the amount of savings which may be disregarded for the purposes of (a) additional heating allowance and (b) other benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorThe main rules limiting entitlement to those with savings above a certain level apply in the
597Wsupplementary benefit scheme. At present those with savings above £3,000 are normally excluded from weekly entitlement. From 1988, as part of the social security reforms, we plan to increase this limit to £6,000 with a tariff income applying to savings between £3,000 and £6,000. We have no plans to increase the £500 capital rule which applies to single payments including those in periods of exceptionally cold weather. The limit was increased from £300 in 1983.