To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether pensioners aged between 60 and 67 years who become sick or disabled after their 60th birthday and who do not qualify for attendance allowance will qualify for the higher pensioner premiums.

The higher pensioner premium is automatically payable to an income support claimant who, or whose partner, is aged 80 or over. Other pensioners aged 60 to 79 are eligible for it if they, or their partner, have an invalid carriage, are blind or receive a long-term incapacity or disability benefit: including not only attendance allowance but also mobility allowance, mobility supplement, severe disablement allowance and invalidity pension.