§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on targeting help towards particularly needy pensioner groups. [8081]
§ Mr. HealdWe are pledged to maintaining the value of the basic state pension whilst focusing additional resources on those on a low income. Extra help, worth 271W around £1.2 billion a year at current rates, has been made available to this group through the income-related benefits.