§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to alter the payment of therapeutic earnings and social security benefits, in order that the money paid for work done in adult training centres is seen as worthwhile earnings when daily travel and meal charges have been deducted and includes incentive payments to improve performance without automatic deductions from supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. OrmeLocal authorities are free to determine for themselves what payments they should make to people attending adult training centres, including arrangements for incentive payments. Trainees claiming supplementary benefits are treated in the same way as other claimants, and full account is taken of expenses in assessing their needs. The whole question of disregard of earnings is one of the matters at present under consideration as part of the comprehensive review of the Supplementary Benefit Scheme.