1. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what consideration has been given to the question of bringing the severely disabled into line with the blind and tubercular as regards a higher basic rate of National Assistance.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)In view of the wide discretionary powers to increase assistance in order to meet special needs, I think that the exercise of these powers is the best way of dealing with any special problems which may arise in cases of severe disability.
Mrs. SlaterDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that welfare officers in many local authorities who are dealing with handicapped people of this kind feel very strongly that those people who are homebound cripples should have the same treatment as those suffering from tuberculosis and blind people because they suffer the same kind of disability? Would the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter again, and, if if it is not possible to reconsider it, would he send out a directive to the effect that the discretionary powers should be used to the fullest possible extent in respect of these people so that they are at no disadvantage whatsoever?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have no doubt at all, as, indeed, I mentioned in the course of our debate last week, that the Board makes very full use of its discretionary powers. Indeed, I quoted figures which, I think, indicated that they are more widely exercised than ever before. The reason for singling out the two categories is, as the hon. Lady knows, largely historical, but I do not think that in practice any real difficulty arises under the present system, and I am quite sure that to attempt to list in special categories all cases of severe disability would create more anomalies than it would cure.