§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what benefits to which pensioners are entitled in Northern Ireland are means-tested; what steps he is taking to reduce the number of means-tested benefits in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [159668]
§ Mr. SpellarPensioners in Northern Ireland are eligible to claim state pension credit and housing benefit which are income-related or means-tested benefits.
The Government's policy is to focus help on the poorest pensioners. Income-related benefits are an integral part of a complementary mixture of social security provision alongside contributory and universal benefits. There are no plans to reduce the number of means-tested benefits available to people in Northern Ireland.