asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make special discretionary benefits, such as medically required diet allowances, payable as of right to retirement pensioners, on production of an appropriate medical certificate from their doctor, without the necessity of undergoing a supplementary benefit means test.

No. The supplementary benefits scheme provides additions for those with exceptional expenses such as special diets. A retirement pensioner who does not qualify for supplementary benefit after account is taken of such expenses is regarded as having a sufficient income to meet them.