asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of free telephone rental allowances granted since April 1978; the amount provided in the last budget for this scheme; and the revised expenditure estimate for the year ended 1978.

: The number of applicants who have so far qualified under the free telephone rental allowance scheme, which came into operation on 1 April 1978, is 3,862. The sum provided in my Department's estimate for the scheme in the current year is £250,000. It is too early in the year to consider a revision of this estimate.

: Does the Minister agree that there are fewer applicants than originally anticipated?

: I think the scheme is running true to form.

: Surely it was originally implied that 6,000 people would benefit from the scheme?

: It is still early in the year. The scheme only came into operation in April.