HC Deb 11 July 1972 vol 840 cc1392-3
20. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, with a view to alleviating hardship to disabled persons, he will give a general direction to the Supplementary Benefits Commission to disregard the first £2 of an invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dean

No, Sir. It would not be appropriate to apply a disregard to a benefit which is part of the basic provisions of the national insurance scheme.

Mr. Dempsey

But bearing in mind that disabled persons enjoy the £2 disregard, should not recipients of the invalidity pension who are chronically disabled be entitled to the same advantage? Would the Minister further consider that many of these recipients are incapacitated and off work for a much longer period than even some of the disabled? Ought that not to entitle them to the advantage of the £2 disregard?

Mr. Dean

I think that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the special arrangements which have existed for a long time now in the war pension scheme and industrial injuries scheme. But the fact is that under the existing arrangements with the Supplementary Benefits Commission the special needs of the disabled can be and are taken into account.

Mr. O'Malley

Is there not already a disregard for quite a large number of national insurance benefits which the Minister implied by his first reply could not be disregarded? Will he take into account that extra expenditure is involved by invalidity pensioners and those who suffer a disability, not least due to the fact that many of them may lose their right to free prescriptions as the result of the receipt of the invalidity allowance and invalidity pension?

Mr. Dean

There is not a main disregard, as the hon. Gentleman well knows, within the national insurance scheme. There are special arrangements for industrial injuries and war pensions. But the Supplementary Benefits Commission has power, which it exercises where appropriate, to meet the special additional needs of the disabled. There is no doubt that the Commission will continue to exercise this power.