HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 c889
15. Mr. Fortescue

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will increase the supplementary benefit scales blind allowance so as to restore the value of the allowance to its value when it was introduced in 1948.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. Brian O'Malley)

The blind have a separate supplementary benefit scale rate which for the single person is worth about 40 per cent. more in real terms than the equivalent national assistance rate in 1948, even excluding the long-term addition.

Mr. Fortescue

Will the hon. Gentleman not answer the Question, which is whether he will take action to increase this allowance to restore it to its value when introduced in 1948? Would he not agree that, in not doing this, the Government are showing the same lack of compassion towards the blind as they are showing towards the over-80s?

Mr. Heffer

Absolute humbug.

Mr. O'Malley

The hon. Gentleman is completely ignoring the fact that about 94 per cent. of blind people receiving supplementary benefit get the 10s. long-term addition which this Government introduced on top of the basic rate and that the total benefit is well above the kind of level that they received in 1948 in percentage terms.