§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many households within the Seaham and Peterlee area of his Department he estimates will lose help they at present receive for heating bills, with the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986;
(2) how many households in the Seaham and Peterlee area of his Department are in receipt of social security payments to help towards heating bills.
§ Mr. ScottI regret that no information is available concerning the number of households in the Seaham and Peterlee area which are in receipt of supplementary benefit heating additions.
The amount of money spent on heating additions has been included in the resources for the new income support scheme. Extra help will be directed more effectively through the premiums at those in greatest need—pensioners, sick and disabled people and families. Under the arrangements we have made for transitional protection, claimants whose benefit entitlement on the introduction of the income support scheme would be less than their existing benefit entitlement will have their benefit level maintained.