§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will re-examine the scale of benefit paid to persons who need to remain in mental hospitals for treatment for periods of more than six weeks and yet who suffer a reduction in their benefits after the first six weeks as patients.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe rates of benefit paid to hospital in-patients will be increased as a result of the proposals for increases in social security benefits now before Parliament. My right hon. Friend has no proposals put forward at the present time for changing the long-standing rules which require some reduction of benefit after eight weeks in hospital.