§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if the seminars recently organised at Baroness Hollis's request covering the possibility of taxing or means-testing disability benefits or substituting services are part of her Department's formal consultation on changes to benefit entitlement for disabled people; [17034]
(2) if she will publish a Green Paper setting out the Government's proposals and options for reform of disability benefits before making any significant changes to them. [17036]
§ Mr. DenhamI understand that my noble Friend, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, has recently attended seminars, covering a wide range of disability issues at the invitation of, and arranged by MENCAP, on behalf of various groups representing disabled people and their carers. These seminars were proposed by disability organisations so that they could present their views on disability benefits. My noble Friend found them helpful and informative.
74WWe are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the Department's expenditure as a first stage in our plan to modernise the Social Security system. The review is wide-ranging and includes the complex range of benefits paid to people who have health problems or who are disabled. No decisions on any options for change have been reached and no changes will be made before we have consulted people with disabilities and their organisations. We have regularly met organisations representing people with disabilities or health problems. These meetings have helped inform debate on what they see as the problems inherent in the current system, on how resources could be used more effectively, and on the development of our proposals for Welfare to Work for sick and disabled people. We continue to welcome the views of sick and disabled people, their representative organisations and others with an interest.