asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending the free electricity and other allowances to surviving spouses of deceased old age pensioners who up to their deaths qualified for these allowances, especially where the means of the surviving spouse is diminished by their partner's death.

The schemes providing for free electricity and free travel are reviewed in my Department from time to time and the possibility of suitable extensions is normally considered in the context of the annual budget.

Can I take it that the Minister is sympathetic to the case of spouses of deceased recipients?

As I first introduced this scheme, I am always sympathetic towards any possible extensions of it.