Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons

HC Deb 27 June 1966 vol 730 cc1211-3

8. Miss Lestor

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how far she has progressed with investigations into the plight of the generally disabled who do not come under the categories of war pensions, industrial injuries or other pensionable groups.

12. Mr. Astor

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will now introduce a constant attendance allowance to those who are chronically sick or disabled.

Miss Herbison

The first step towards alleviating the plight of the hardest hit among chronically sick and disabled people has been taken in the Ministry of Social Security Bill. We recognise that there is still a long way to go and we are continuing our study of the problems of these groups.

Miss Lestor

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask her whether she is in touch with the various disabled persons' organisations and whether she is aware of the pressure that they are putting on some of us? Also, will the general review give priority to these hitherto neglected categories of people?

Miss Herbison

Yes, I am very much aware of the pressure, because the groups get in touch with me as Minister. It would be wrong of me to say that first priority will be given to this group, because there are so many groups which need priority, and we have to consider them all in the general review.

Mr. Astor

Does the right hon. Lady recall that it was a year ago that I asked a similar Question, when she promised to treat the subject as a matter of urgency ahead of the review? Does she recall that as long ago as as February, 1964, she wrote a letter confirming her support for a constant attendance allowance? Can she say whether she is really giving the matter priority?

Miss Herbison

There are many things that we have to give urgent attention to, and this is one of them. I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that we realise the very great need and hope to find a solution to the problem.

Mr. Hooley

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the special problem of married women who are totally disabled, and whose husbands are in employment, and who, therefore, cannot claim any social benefit?

Miss Herbison

Yes, they are in a special category, but there are others—for instance, those receiving sickness benefit—who are in very great need also.

Miss Pike

Will the right hon. Lady accept this as her top priority, particularly as we now have inflation increasing rapidly and diminishing employment prospects for many of these people?

Miss Herbison

It is very difficult to say that I will accept that as my top priority when I think of the many thousands of children who are in real poverty too. It is a question of examining all these cases and knowing when is the appropriate time to move in each of them.

24. Mr. Maurice Macmillan

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what inquiries she is making into the number of disabled persons who receive neither any form of pension nor National Assistance; and whether these inquiries seek to discover both the number of such persons at present cared for in institutions who could with financial assistance live at home and the cost of such assistance compared with the present cost of institutional care.

Miss Herbison

As part of our review of social security, we have under examination the needs of all chronically sick and disabled people regardless of their age, marital status, means, or position in insurance.

Mr. Macmillan

I thank the right hon. Lady. Can she give an assurance that she will pay special attention to the point in question if it is clear that the economic situation will make it difficult for her to complete all her plans? This is one method of benefiting the chronically sick and disabled which would not cost, on balance, any more.

Miss Herbison

All these matters are being examined in the review.

Mr. Astor

Is it not the case that not only would there be financial saving but also benefit to the disabled if they were able to live at home with their families?

Miss Herbison

Yes, Sir. Where a disabled person can live at home it is a good thing, quite apart from the saving in expense, both for the disabled person himself and for his family.