HL Deb 06 February 1991 vol 525 cc1160-1

2.52 p.m.

Lord Stallard asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will introduce a benefit to cover the whole range of extra costs incurred by people with disabilities.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)

My Lords, our strategy is to build further on the existing system of benefits designed to help with the extra costs of disability. The Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance Bill, which will shortly be before this House, will give ample opportunity to discuss our proposals to build on our record in this area.

Lord Stallard

My Lords, is it not a fact that the new disability living allowance is merely an amalgamation of the mobility and attendance allowances, and that people who qualify for the new allowance will not receive help towards the extra costs of disability; namely, special diet, heating, special laundry arrangements, telephone rental, and so on? In effect, the new allowance will do nothing to alleviate the hardships which have been caused since the abolition of the single payment system in 1988 under the 1986 Act. Would it not be more constructive at this stage to engage in further discussions with RADAR, the RNIB and other such organisations, to try to reach agreement on a single benefit which would cover all the costs incurred by people with disabilities?

Lord Henley

My Lords, the noble Lord quite rightly says that the new disability allowance is an amalgamation of two existing benefits. It is also an extension of those two existing benefits. The two components of the new disability allowance—care and mobility—will provide access as gateways to claimants suffering from clusters of disabilities. Regarding consultation with RADAR and other such groups, as I have said on many occasions, I am always prepared to meet representatives from such groups.

Lord Carter

My Lords, is the Minister aware that where severe disability results from an accident and a compensation claim is successfully pursued through the courts, very large awards are made which quantify the substantial extra costs resulting from the disability? That can be hundreds of pounds per week. On the other hand, a person born with the same or even worse disability than the accident victim has to manage on the totally inadequate level of social security benefits mentioned by my noble friend Lord Stallard. Does the Minister agree that our system for compensating the extra costs of disability is both arbitrary and unfair and should be replaced by a comprehensive and non-means tested disability cost allowance?

Lord Henley

My Lords, I do not accept the points made by the noble Lord. I point to our record. There has been a doubling in expenditure on the long-term sick and disabled—some £8.8 billion over the past 10 years. That is double what was spent on the long-term sick and disabled by the noble Lord's party when it was in government some 11 years ago.

Lord Carter

My Lords, that is not the point which I am making. I am referring to the arbitrariness and unfairness of a system in which a person with a severe disability resulting from an accident receives a very substantial award through the courts which quantifies the extra costs of the disability, whereas a person born with the same disability must manage on social security benefits.

Lord Henley

My Lords, we are living in the real world. I understand that the noble Lord's party has put forward proposals in its document As of Right and I understand that those proposals will cost some extra £4.4 billion per year. Judging by experience of earlier Labour Governments, it is extremely unlikely that any future Labour Government will be able to afford that.

Lord Stallard

My Lords, in reply to my original Question, the noble Lord said that he is always prepared to consult on the new allowance or any other aspects. Does he mean that if representatives of those organisations make a joint request to meet the Minister to discuss this new benefit, he will be prepared to meet them?

Lord Henley

My Lords, yes. I gave that assurance.

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