asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a climatic top-up element to pensions and other benefits payable to residents in Scotland to take account of the colder conditions prevailing so that fuel resources are available to recipients throughout the United Kingdom on an equitable basis.

I have been asked to reply.No. I am satisfied that the existing arrangements for giving help with fuel costs represent the fairest way of distributing the available resources. Any scheme of the kind suggested would raise very difficult questions in relation to qualifying criteria and geographical boundaries. Help given to supplementary pensioners and other supplementary beneficiaries by single payments related to increases in fuel consumption does, of course, automatically reflect the effects of exceptionally severe weather.