§ 8. Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to revoke the rule that mentally-handicapped unemployed persons must pay 15s. 9d. per week for an insurance stamp.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. Brian O'Malley)Non-employed persons need not contribute if their income is not more than £312 a 1000 year. Above this level non-employed people are required to pay contributions, and it would not be right to select from among them groups or individuals for special exception from this liability.
§ Mrs. KnightApart from the doubtful morality of the general principle of the Minister's Answer, is not he aware that some parents, after considerable sacrifice, much worry and careful calculation, leave sufficient money for their mentally-handicapped children to be cared for after they are gone? Do not rules of this kind completely wreck such calculations? Are the people who are ministering to these mentally-handicapped persons supposed to go to the Ministry of Health and Social Security and ask for a supplementary allowance of 15s. 9d. a week to cover the cost of the stamp?
§ Mr. O'MalleyI appreciate the hon. Lady's point. She has written to me about a specific case. The new national superannuation and social insurance scheme at present before the House exempts non-employed persons from such payments.