§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Social Security whether the social benefit of£4 a week to subnormal persons is still subject to reduction of any earnings exceeding£2 per week; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Miss HerbisonThe first£2 of the part-time earnings of any Supplementary Benefit recipient who is outside the ordinary employment field is disregarded. I do not think that in this respect subnormal persons should be treated differently from other beneficiaries.
§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that a subnormal person working 35 hours a week at 2s. 6d. per hour is subject to a repayment of social benefit of 1s. 4d. per hour; and whether she will take steps to remove this anomaly.
§ Miss HerbisonThe Supplementary Benefit payable to a subnormal person who worked 35 hours a week and earned£4 7s. 6d. would be reduced by£2 7s. 6d., i.e. the excess of the earnings over the 43W £2 disregard. In a scheme of benefits related to income I do not think that this constitutes an anomaly.