§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply of 26 March, if he will set out the policy considerations involved in his decision not to make retrospective ex-gratia payments to those pensioners with savings up to £16,000.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe changes in the capital rules for the income-related benefits formed part of a package of measures, designed to help savers, which were announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement. The changes took effect from the benefit uprating dates in April. It is well-established policy that such changes are not applied retrospectively, with the recalculation of benefit entitlement this would require, and to do so in this case would be neither appropriate nor practical.
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§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether employment training trainees who were formerly in receipt of income support can apply for a loan or a grant from the social fund; what account is taken of the £10 training premium; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottA claimant receiving income support when starting employment training would normally continue to do so, and would be eligible for help from the social fund in the normal way. When a crisis loan is being considered, all resources available to the claimant are taken into account.