§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Minister of Social Security if she will make a statement on the social security provisions for the chronic disabled mental patient in the community; and what plans she has to improve these provisions.
§ Miss HerbisonThe basic provision for chronically disabled people, including those who are mentally disabled, is sickness benefit or, depending on age, retirement pension under the National Insurance Scheme. And there is also supplementary benefit for those whose resources, including any insurance benefit to which they are entitled, are not sufficient to meet their need. As for the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, I would refer him to the replies which I gave on 6th February to the hon. Members for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick), Newbury (Mr. Astor) and Bradford, West (Mr. Haseldine).—[Vol. 740, c. 1082–3.]