§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what categories of those receiving benefits from his Department will be assisted to meet the extra costs following the imposition of value added tax on fuel and energy; how the assistance will be calculated; whether there will be specific fuel additions made to benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtPensions and other benefits will increase automatically to reflect the impact of any increase in fuel bills on the indices used to uprate benefits.
Moreover, extra help will be given from April 1994 to poorer pensioners and other people on low incomes to assist with higher fuel bills as soon as they arise.
Details of the precise way in which we will provide this extra help will be announced in the normal way in the autumn.