§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what efforts are currently undertaken by his Department to consult carers and their representatives organisations concerning the income needs of carers.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research work has been undertaken by his Department to date to evaluate the costs of caring.
§ Mr. ScottThis Department helps to sponsor a number of large-scale surveys that collect data about the financial circumstances of carers. These include:
- British Household Panel Study
- Family Resources Survey and
- General Household Survey.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to(a) raise the level of invalid care allowance to that of the basic state pension and (b) raise the level of income support carer premium to that of a pensioner premium for a person aged under 75 years; and if he will indicate the estimated costs of implementing both (a) and (b)
§ Mr. ScottWe have no plans to do so.
The estimated costs, at 1992–93 prices and benefit levels are:
- (a) £156 million
- (b) £15 million1
1 Figure rounded to the nearest £5 million and does not include housing benefit and community charge benefit costs.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy for the Benefits Agency to establish a dedicated advice line for carers.
§ Mr. ScottOperational matters are a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 16 February 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational 252W matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if the Agency will establish a dedicated advice line for carers.The Agency is committed to providing both an efficient and effective service accessible to all our customers. To this end, specific consideration has been given to people with disabilities and those who care for them, and a number of initiatives have been set up.With the success of the general Freeline service a number of similar services were introduced including the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL). This provides advice and information to people with disabilities as well as to the people who care for them. It is also able to assist with the completion of claim forms over the telephone. At present, forms can be completed for visually impaired customers in braille or large print. However, as a development of the BEL, a full form completion service covering the full range of benefits for people with disabilities and their carers will be introduced in April this year. The benefits covered will include Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance and Invalid Care Allowance.With carers being catered for by the Benefit Enquiry Line the Agency does not have any plans, at this stage, to establish a further advice line.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.