§ 49. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the work just started by the Industrial Therapy Organisation in Bristol as an experiment in training and rehabilitating mental patients by providing them with suitable employment; and, in view of the fact that such incentive may be destroyed if the full National Health contributions are deducted from their wages and if the benefits are reduced when they earn over £2 a week, if he will assist this effort to assist sufferers of mental disabilities by relaxing the regulations in such cases or introducing new ones to meet this exceptional situation, and also 87W bring this scheme to the attention of other local authorities.
§ Miss PittMy right hon. and learned Friend is of course aware of, and warmly welcomes, this widely publicised experimental project. He is also aware that for a combination of reasons, including the liability for National Insurance and National Health Service contributions, certain difficulties have arisen over the financial position of some of the patients, especially those who were formerly entitled to National Insurance benefits. He is having these difficulties examined.