§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people will be involved in the changes of the payment of benefit from the special hardship allowances under the industrial injuries scheme to the new reduced earnings allowance included in the Social Security Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe Social Security Act 1988 introduced a new benefit—retirement allowance—to774W replace reduced earnings allowance (formerly known as special hardship allowance) for those people of pension age who retire on or after 10 April this year. We estimate that between 4,500 and 5,000 beneficiaries will reach pension age each year, and the change will affect them as and when they retire.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in full the views of the people who responded to the consultation paper issued in December 1985 on the proposed changes to the industrial injuries scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is not our practice to publish the responses made by individuals or organisations to consultation papers. When we announced the changes proposed following this consultation paper, we reported on the balance of respondents' views on each of the proposals.