§ 29. Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the incomes of pensioners while they are in long-term hospital care. [3604]
§ Mr. McCartneyMost benefit recipients, including Retirement Pensioners, have no reduction in their benefits for the first six weeks of a spell in hospital. There is a limited reduction in benefits after six weeks in hospital and a further reduction after 52 weeks in hospital. These rules have been applied with only minor modifications since the introduction of the National Insurance scheme over 50 years ago.