§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration will be given to the uprating of benefits in line with a special retail price index specifically reflecting low paid and claimants' spending patterns as submitted to him by the Low Pay Unit.
§ Mr. RossiI have considered the index prepared by the low pay unit but have decided that it does not represent any improvement on the present basis for determining the uprating of benefits.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will introduce a cash benefit for mothers of handicapped children, geared to bridging the gap between her actual income and that which she might reasonably have expected to receive had she not been the mother of a handicapped child;
(2) if he will take steps to introduce an expenses benefit for families with disabled children in line with the recommendations of paragraphs 1521 to 1531 of the Pearson Commission Report on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury.