HC Deb 17 June 1993 vol 226 cc716-7W
Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the independent living fund ceased accepting applications under the special rules covering the terminally ill; and what are the financial savings from this decision.

Mr. Scott

The former independent living fund ceased to operate on 31 March 1993. At the same time two new bodies were established, one of which was the independent living (1993) fund. This fund is an independent trust. Within the discretion accorded them by the trust deed, the trustees are responsible for deciding the fund's priorities.

The trustees have recently decided that the fund's resources should be targeted on the most severely disabled people in order to allow them to live as full a life as possible in the community, rather than on terminally ill people, for whom separate provision is made both by this Department and the Department of Health as well as a number of charitable and voluntary bodies. Because the fund is cash limited, no financial savings arise from the trustees' decision.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the decision of the independent living fund not to give help to new applicants who are terminally ill.

Mr. Scott

The former independent living fund ceased to operate on 31 March 1993. At the same time, two new bodies were established, one of which was the independent living (1993) fund. This fund is an independent trust. Within the discretion accorded them by the trust deed, the trustees are responsible for deciding the fund's priorities.

The trustees have recently decided that the fund's resources should be targeted on the most severely disabled people in order to allow them to live as full a life as possible in the community, rather than on terminally ill people, for whom separate provision is made both by this Department and the Department of Health as well as a number of charitable and voluntary bodies.