§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to monitor the needs of the disabled who draw supplementary benefit, in the light of the new supplementary benefit scheme.
§ Mr. PrenticeDisabled people who qualify for supplementary benefit continue to get the full amount of any mobility allowance or attendance allowance because it is disregarded in full. Furthermore, the requirements regulations include specific provisions for the disabled—for example, for extra heating, special wear and tear on clothing, laundry and domestic assistance. In addition, all claimants may qualify for single payments if they meet the conditions in the single payments regulations. Disabled people particularly are expected to benefit from certain of these provisions. The extensive arrangements being made to monitor various aspects of the new scheme include work on the pattern of single payments, where the effects on the disabled will be kept in mind.