§ Mr. Bowen Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes have been made in benefits to those caring for the elderly, mentally ill or disabled persons since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonEligibility for invalid care allowance was extended in 1981 to those caring for non-relatives. In 1982 the amount that beneficiaries are allowed to earn was570W doubled from £6 to £12 a week. As regards supplementary benefit, the qualifying period for moving from the ordinary to the long-term scale rate was reduced from two years to one year in 1980.
§ Mr. Bowen Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services as invalid care allowance is not extended to married women, what steps are taken to ensure that married women are able to have the necessary home help, such as a visiting nurse.
§ Mr. WhitneyDomestic help is available for those who are assessed to be in need of it from local authority home help services. It rests with district health authorities to assess, in individual cases, the need to provide community nursing services.