§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what measures his Department is taking to assist those tenants on estates designated by his Department as exceptionally expensive to heat who will lose heating benefit under the Social Security Act 1986;
578W(2) how many households will lose the help which they presently receive through the social security system towards their heating bills with the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986.
§ Mr. PortilloIn general transitional protection will be paid to existing supplementary benefit recipients, where overall benefit entitlement under income support would otherwise decrease. This will ensure that they will not lose the cash value of the help they currently receive towards heating costs.