10. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much it would cost to improve the National Assistance Regulations in order to give the special scales of assistance, as applied to blind persons, to those who are severely physically handicapped.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI regret that it is not possible to make such an estimate.
Mrs. SlaterDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that these people who are home-bound—cripples, and those with severe physical disabilities—are as greatly handicapped as those who are blind and need the same extra attention that the blind need? Could he not, in a review, look at the possibility of at least giving to these physically handicapped home-bound people some such special Assistance rates?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI agree that it is very difficult to distinguish between degrees of hardship amongst people with serious physical disabilities of one sort or another, but I doubt whether these special scales really are as important as they were in view of the fact, as I said in answer to an earlier Question, that the Board now exercises its discretionary powers to the full; and that is probably 10 a more flexible method than laying down arbitrary scales for a particular disability.
Mrs. SlaterBut does not the right hon. Gentleman know that people like officers of local authorities looking after this particular section of people are themselves convinced that these extra rates are absolutely necessary? Could not the right hon. Gentleman collect some information from those doing this kind of work so that he would have knowledge of the persons to whom these rates should be applied?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think that in the really serious cases these special rates would make any difference—because, by way of discretionary additions, the seriously handicapped are almost certainly receiving that sort of amount now. As regards practical experience, while I admire the work done by local authorities, I think that I can say that the National Assistance Board has more comprehensive and national experience than any other of these organisations.
§ Mr. DugdaleWhy does the right hon. Gentleman take this line with regard to the handicapped and a different line with regard to the blind? Does he not realise that, in some cases, these handicapped people are as badly off as are the blind? Why cannot he give them the same consideration?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt was not I who initiated the distinction between the blind and the tuberculous, with their special rates, on the one hand, and the rest; that was a distinction that was made many years ago. All I say is that in these days, when the discretion of the Board is very flexibly used, there is no need to multiply these special rates by creating new ones.