§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will introduce a flat-rate carers allowance which is not meanstested and is disregarded for means-tested benefits.
§ Mr. ScottInvalid care allowance (ICA) is a flat-rate non means-tested social security benefit specifically for carers. The number of people in Great Britain receiving the benefit at any one time has increased from 5,000 in 1978–79 to about 155,000 in 1991–92 and the amount spent has increased from £4 million to an estimated £260 million over the same period. We introduced a carer premium (currently £10.80 a week) into the income related benefits in October 1990 specifically to help the less well-off carers. ICA is an income maintenance benefit and to disregard it for income-related benefits would result in double provision from public funds.