HC Deb 15 July 1982 vol 27 cc453-4W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to extend invalid care allowance to married cohabiting women.

Mr. Rossi

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) and the hon. Member for Manchester, Moss Side (Mr. Morton) on 13 July.—[Vol. 27, c.365.]

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider continuing the payment of invalid care allowance for a specified period of time to carers who do not have employment to return to after the death of the dependant.

Mr. Rossi

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 7 July.—[Vol. 27, c.140.]

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider introducing legislation to make all essential household appliances free of charge to those caring for an infirm elderly, handicapped or disabled person; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rossi

We have no plans to do so. Where, however, supplementary benefit claimants need essential furniture and household equipment they can in certain circumstances claim a single payment to cover the cost of those items.

Mr. Ancram

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the other benefit payments which were referred to in the reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 13 May, Official Report, c. 308; and what proportion of these other benefit payments are presently being paid to the wives of invalids.

Mr. Rossi

The benefit payments concerned are the increase for a wife which is paid to the husband with his invalidity benefit, non-contributory invalidity pension, retirement pension or supplementary benefit.