asked the Minister of Labour on what conditions are winter allowances granted to applicants for unemployment assistance; and for what period are such allowances applicable?

Winter allowances are being granted for a period of 22 weeks from the beginning of November. Every case in which the applicant is providing his own fuel is considered on its merits, and officers have been instructed to pay special regard to all such cases where the applicant has no resources or only small resources beyond their allowances, or, in the case of pensioners, their basic and supplementary pensions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform us what grants are being given in these cases and make available a copy of the instructions that have been sent to the area officers?

I should like to have notice of that Question.

asked the Minister of Health on what conditions are the winter allowances being granted to applicants for supplementary pensions; and what are the dates between which the winter allowances will operate?

Winter allowances are being granted for a period of 22 weeks from the beginning of November. Every case in which the applicant is providing his own fuel is considered on its merits and the; Assistance Board's officers have been instructed to pay special regard to all such cases where the applicants have no resources or only small resources beyond their basic and supplementary pensions.

Will the Minister make available in the Library a copy of the instructions sent to the area officers who are dealing with that matter?

I should like to have notice of that Question.

When the Minister says that each case will be considered on its merits, does that not mean that it will be considered on the basis of a means test?

I think it is clear that each case must be considered in the light of its own circumstances, but the returns so far available show that winter allowances have been given in 56 per cent. of supplementary pension cases.