§ 5. Mr. NorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have benefited from increases in the earnings disregard in invalid care allowance in the last two years.
§ The Minister for Social Security and Disabled People (Mr. Nicholas Scott)The number of people getting invalid care allowance and declaring earnings has more than doubled since March 1990.
§ Mr. NorrisGiven the eminent good sense of helping those who want to care for disabled people to do so at home, I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the fact that the number of those who can claim an allowance while caring for invalids at home rose from 5,000 when the Government came into office to over 125,000 last year. Given the evident success of enhancing the earnings disregard, which last year more than doubled the number of people who are able to claim it while working, will my right hon. Friend take on board the idea of extending the earnings disregard principle further?
§ Mr. ScottWe monitor this carefully. It is worth reminding the House that expenditure has increased from £4 million in 1978–79 to £213 million in 1990–91. That shows our concern for those who care for the most severely disabled. I am equally convinced that generous earnings allowances encourage the carers to join or remain in employment.