§ 51. Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Social Security how the review of cases of wage-stopped disabled people is proceeding.
§ Mrs. HartThe implementation of the Commission's wage-stop decisions is being carried out in three stages. The first of these stages, namely the introduction of the Local Authority (National Joint Council) rates for labourers formerly on regional rates and the abolition of the 7s. 6d. deduction for "intangible expenses" for these cases was carried out in March. The second stage, involving the abolition of the 7s. 6d. deduction for expenses in cases not covered by the March review; discussion with the claimant of the figure being used for net earnings; substitution of three months for six months as a measure of temporary sickness (with a corresponding reduction in the case of prisoners' wives); and the discontinuance of the practice whereby a wife's earnings may be deducted in full from her husband's wage-stopped benefit is now being carried out as individual cases come up for review.
The third and last stage is the special review of disabled cases. Consultations with other Ministries are necessary and it is hoped to carry out the review in the Autumn.