§ 7. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to make disabled persons eligible for benefits equivalent to long-term supplementary benefit after being unemployed for the same period after which able-bodied persons qualify for the long term rate.
§ Mr. RossiThe long-term rate of supplementary benefit is payable to all supplementary pensioners and to all other claimants, with the exception of unemployed people under age 60, who have been in receipt of supplementary benefit at the ordinary rate for a year—including disabled people.
§ 47. Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list: the total amounts paid in each of the past five years in cash benefits for the disabled; and whether this represents an increase in real terms.
§ Mr. RossiThe information requested is as follows. It includes benefits paid to the long-term sick as well as to disabled people, as defined in table 2.12.2, page 62 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1983–84 to 1985–86"—Cmnd. 8789-II. It shows a real increase in expenditure of 19 per cent. over the five-year period.
Year Cash £ million At 1981–82 Prices 1977–78 1,470 2,390 1978–79 1,730 2,600 1979–80 2,040 2,650 1980–81 2,410 2,680 1981–82 2,840 2,840