§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the figures given in the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 23 June,Official Report, column 276, for the cost of diets for people with AIDS or HIV infection; if he will also give figures for the income support available to people under 25 years of age who are unemployed but still capable of work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottBased upon the food component of the September 1988 retail prices index, the diet costed at £14.19 would now cost £15.43 and that of £9.46 would now cost £10.29. The income support available to people under the age of 25 years is £27.40 a week for all 18 to 24 year olds, and certain 16 to 17 year olds who, of necessity, have to live away from home; 16 to 17-year-olds who live in someone else's household may qualify for £20.80 a week.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what recent consultations he has had concerning the financial needs of people with AIDS/ARC and HIV; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has received concerning the financial needs of people with AIDS/ARC/HIV; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottI have received various representations from organisations, including the Terrence Higgins trust, and from individuals. Officials have also had recent consultations with the Department of Health.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to be able to send a 421W substantive reply to the letter of 12 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on income support for people with AIDS/ARC/HIV; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify any difference in treatment in regard to means-tested benefits between payments under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 and the £20,000 payments from the Macfarlane trust in respect of(a) children and (b) adults.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAll payments from the Macfarlane trust are disregarded for benefit purposes. Lump sump payments made under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 are normally taken into account as capital, unless they are placed in trust for the recipient. They are then disregarded.
- (a) if the payment is for a child, until he or she is no longer a dependant;
- (b) if the payment is for an adult, for 2 years, or longer in certain circumstances.
Any payments from a trust will be taken into account as income or capital in the normal way.