HC Deb 06 March 1973 vol 852 cc226-7
20. Sir B. Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish a Green Paper on the proposal for a disability income.

57. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now able to make a statement following the review by his Department of provision for the disabled.

Sir K. Joseph

The possibilities and priorities for further improvements in cash provision for the disabled are being studied. But there is a great deal more work to be done and I have no proposals to put forward at the present time.

Sir B. Rhys Williams

Does my right hon. Friend agree that Members in all parts of the House now accept the need for a disability income and that we look to him to provide specific recommendations about procedure, the numbers likely to be affected and the likely cost?

Sir K. Joseph

Certainly the Government are studying all the proposals made in connection with disability, but it is still true that I cannot make proposals at this stage.

Miss Fookes

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the plight of the disabled who are able to earn very small incomes but cannot afford national insurance contributions and then find that they cannot qualify for existing benefits because they are told that they have not made contributions?

Sir K. Joseph

I share my hon. Friend's impatience but I hope she will appreciate that whereas three years ago no money was paid out to the civil disabled, for civil disability we shall have reached under this Government an additional annual cash pay-out, as well as improving the services, of £100 million by the end of next year.

Mr. Molloy

Is the Secretary of State aware that a number of voluntary organisations like the Disablement Income Group have supplied him with a lot of material which they have researched themselves and that in all fairness we should be looking forward to a White Paper rather than a Green Paper? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say that he accepts the principle and that an appropriate measure will shortly be introduced?

Sir K. Joseph

I greatly respect the DIG, but I do not necessarily accept all its conclusions.