§ Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that attempts are being made by the Industrial Therapy Organisation in Bristol to rehabilitate mental patients and prepare them to take their place in industry and that the earnings regulations remove to some extent from these people the incentive to take advantage of this scheme; and if he will accordingly consider a system of graduated reductions from earnings, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central.
§ Mrs. ThatcherMy right hon. Friend is aware of the praiseworthy aims of this Organisation and has already done all he can to help by treating patients working in the factory as entitled to training credits, thus relieving them of liability for insurance contributions. The sickness benefit earnings rule is merely a practical measure of the amount of work a person may do and still be treated as incapable of work; it has no relevance in a context in which people are capable of working full-time. The last part of the question does not therefore arise.