HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 cc431-2W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will bring forward proposals to allow everybody over 60 years of age to have the right of winter heating allowances from October to March.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of people receiving supplementary benefit or income support who were(a) residents in residential care homes, (b) residents in nursing homes, (c) residents over pension age, (d) residents under pension age, (e) elderly residents and (f) mentally ill residents, for each year since 1979.

Miss Widdecombe

Such information as is available is shown in the tables. For the period before 1985 only information for the total number of residents in both residential care and nursing homes is available.

(Thousands)
Year Total
December 1979 12
December 1980 13
December 1981 13
December 1982 16
December 1983 26
December 1984 42

Mr. Scott

We have no plans to do so. The Government have already announced significant improvements in the cold weather payments scheme for the coming winter. Targeting cold weather payments on income support recipients ensures that the resources available are directed to those people in most need.

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