HC Deb 11 March 1992 vol 205 c523W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will evaluate the performance of the independent living fund since its inception in 1988.

Mr. Scott

We are proud of the many achievements of the ILF since it was founded nearly four years ago. It has played an important role in the run-up to community care and is currently helping nearly 12,000 people to live independently in their own homes.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his decision to abolish the independent living fund in March 1993.

Mr. Scott

A successor body will be established to take over all the cases where beneficiaries of the independent living fund are receiving help at the end of March 1993. This new body will continue to make cash payments to its beneficiaries in the same way as the fund does now.

It is planned that from April 1993, people needing such help will be dealt with under the mainstream arrangements for community care.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision will be made available to the independent living fund for 1992–93.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if it remains his policy to ensure that the independent living fund can help existing beneficiaries and admit new people during 1992–93;

(2) how much his Department has allocated for funding the independent living fund for 1992–93; and if he will take steps to ensure that the independent living fund has sufficient funds to meet new applications throughout 1992–93.

Mr. Scott

In addition to the £82 million already proposed for the independent living fund in 1992–93, the Government have decided to grant a further £15 million, bringing a total provision to £97 million. The trustees assure me that this will be sufficient—in conjunction with other steps they are taking—to enable the fund to continue operating until April 1993.

Parliamentary approval for the additional sum, which will be met from the reserve without adding to the planning total for public expenditure, will be sought in the usual way.