asked the Minister for Social Welfare the representations, if any, he has made to the EEC Commission regarding the restrictions preventing contributory old age pensioners from benefiting from the EEC's reduced price butter scheme.

Representations were made by my predecessor to the EEC Commission with a view to having the scope of the EEC social assistance butter scheme extended to recipients of contributory pensions. Talks have been held with officals of the Commission and the matter is still under consideration.

Can the Minister give any indication as to whether the Commission will budge in this matter or whether contributory old age pensioners can expect to avail of this facility?

The schemes are related directly to assistance schemes which are means tested. The problem arises in the extension of the scheme to non-means test people. This is one of the areas that concerns the Commission. One of the approaches would be to find a definition within which an extension could take place without a means test.

Does the Minister accept that there are many contributory old age pensioners who, if they were means tested, would qualify for non-contributory pension? Are not the Commission unfair in penalising people because they paid their contributions over the years?

If a suitable definition can be found the scheme could be improved. If one were to introduce a means test system the increase in the improved benefit would not be sufficient to warrant that kind of administration. Basically, we would not be in favour of that kind of an extension, but we would be in favour of an extension and we will press for it.