§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action he proposes to relieve the financial burden caused by the disability trap; if he will now take action to provide an adequate income for the disabled and the aged; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has studied the DIG publication "The Disability Trap"; if he accepts the general findings; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he has considered the estimate made by DIG that 95 per cent. of the 1,128,000 appreciably, seriously or very seriously handicapped people live on inadequate pensions; and if he will review the situation.
§ Mr. DeanThe range of benefits available to handicapped people has been 271W significantly extended through invalidity allowance and attendance allowance. Benefit levels also have been improved, and that process is continued in the proposals for this year's uprating which have just been announced. The question of further improvements in provision for the handicapped is under review.