§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider extending the distribution of free European Economic Community food supplies to pensioners.
§ Mr. GummerEuropean Community legislation requires that the food be distributed under this scheme only to the most deprived persons in the Community. We have been allocated £10.4 million for this purpose and applications from organisations exceeded the allocation by about three times. We expect our allocation to be fully used. The Government have decided that those on income support or family credit, together with people of no fixed abode or in welfare hostels, meet this criterion. Pensioners in any of these categories are, of course, eligible.