§ 14. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has given further consideration to the issuing of a discussion document on the establishment of a disablement cost allowance.
§ Mr. ParryWhy did the Government in 1979 give massive tax handouts to the wealthiest 5 per cent. of the population while immediately breaking up the DHSS team that had been working on the establishment of the new benefit with my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris)? Is the Minister aware of the growing anger of the disabled and their organisations throughout the country at the indolence of the Government and the cynical neglect of the needs of the disabled?
§ Mr. RossiThe hon. Gentleman has got his facts wrong. The previous Administration made no public statement that they intended to issue a Green Paper on provision for the disabled, as has been hinted from time to time. In addition, no financial provision for further assistance to the disabled had been made in the public expenditure White Paper that this Government inherited.
§ Mr. AshleyI thought that the Government were committed to the principle of a cost allowance. If the Minister is not prepared to give us even a discussion document, will he tell us when the allowance will appear?
§ Mr. RossiWe have made it clear that our first priority is to strengthen the economy. I regret that until that has been achieved no progress can be made towards our objective of a coherent system of benefits for disabled people, which will cost thousands of millions of pounds. Despite the restraints on public expenditure, we have made limited improvements in benefits, notably in the mobility allowance.