§ Mr. Robert C. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give consideration to the payment of the £10 Christmas bonus to all disabled persons living on social security benefits.
§ Mr. DeanThe special payment of £10 will be made to disabled persons who are over pensionable age and in receipt of retirement pension or other qualifying benefits, including attendance allowance and invalidity pension. As I explained to the House at the Committee stage of the Pensioners' Payments and National Insurance Bill on 19th October, the dividing line of pensionable age is the only one which is both equitable and practicable.
§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the extra charge on public funds for supplying a £10 Christmas bonus to the chronic sick and the totally incapacitated.
§ Mr. DeanThe cost of extending the special payment to include persons under pension age who have been sick or disabled for six months or more and are receiving social security benefits would be approximately £8 million.
§ Mr. Taverneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of granting a £10 Christmas bonus to those receiving long-term sickness benefit.