§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, under proposals in his social security Green Paper, a double family premium will be paid to all families having a visually handicapped child whether or not the child is in receipt of mobility or attendance allowance.
§ Mr. NewtonYes.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the double family premium proposed in his social security Green Paper will be increased for families with more than one child who is visually handicapped or otherwise disabled.
§ Mr. NewtonThe proposal is that it would not.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements, under the pension plans proposed in his social security Green Paper, will be made to make provision, in addition to basic state retirement pension, for people with erratic work records or low incomes because of sickness or disability throughout their working lives.
§ Mr. NewtonUnder the new arrangements proposed in the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security", employers and employees will be required to contribute at least a minimum amount to an occupational or personal pension scheme. The minimum requirements proposed for the new arrangements are intended to ensure that everybody is able to build up a reasonable additional pension to supplement his basic national insurance pension. The value of that additional private pension will depend on a variety of factors, including how the individual's earnings change during his working life.
958WPeople will be able to decide for themselves whether they wish to increase their contributions above the minimum level. The Green Paper makes it clear that the Government will be giving further consideration to the implications of the new arrangements for invalidity benefit.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, where both partners of a couple are (a) blind, (b) partially sighted or (c) otherwise disabled, a double disablement premium will be paid under the proposals in the Government's social security Green Paper;
(2) if the disablement premium proposed in his social security Green Paper will be paid to non-disabled claimants in respect of a partner who is (a) blind or (b) partially sighted.
§ Mr. NewtonThe disablement premium would be payable where the partner of a claimant is blind. In cases where both partners satisfy the qualifying conditions for the disablement premium, one premium only would be payable. As regards the position of partially-sighted people, I refer the hon. Member to my other reply to him today.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if the higher pensioner premium proposed in his social security Green Paper will be paid to all visually handicapped claimants aged 60 years or over;
(2) if the higher pensioner premium proposed in his social security Green Paper will be paid to non-disabled claimants in respect of a visually handicapped partner aged 60 years and over;
959W(3) if a double rate of higher pensioner premium will be paid, under the proposals in his social security Green Paper, where both partners in a couple are visually handicapped or otherwise disabled.
§ Mr. NewtonA higher pensioner premium would be payable in respect of blindness in the same way as receipt of one of the qualifying benefits. Thus a blind person, whether claimant or partner, aged 60 years and over would be eligible for it. One higher pensioner premium only would be paid in respect of any couple.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, under the proposals in his social security Green Paper, the disablement premium will be paid to partially sighted claimants who are unemployed.
§ Mr. NewtonWe shall consider this issue as we work up the details of the income support scheme and in the light of comments received.