§ 30. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from organisations in Scotland representing the disabled and retirement pensioners concerning the adverse effects on their standard of living of the provisions contained in the Social Security Bill, and the Social Security (No. 2) Bill ; and what was the nature of his reply.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe only such representation that has been received was from the Disablement Income Group (Scotland) about the effect of clause 1 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill on recipients of invalidity benefit. In his reply, my right hon. Friend explained that the abatement this year of invalidity benefit, and certain other benefits, was an interim measure in advance of bringing such benefits into taxation. He also pointed out that, for the majority of invalidity beneficiaries, abatement would have less of an effect on benefit income than taxation.
As regards the Social Security Act 1980, officials of the Department are today meeting with representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss changes in the supplementary 217W benefits scheme to be introduced under the Act, and their effect in Scotland.