§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the steps his Department is taking to meet the extra costs of the disabled in the form of increased allowances, grants and loans.
§ Mr. RossiThe main war pensions and social security benefits are being increased in November so that the value of most of them, taking account of the extra 1 per cent. given last year, is maintained. Mobility allowance will be increased by nearly 14 per cent. against an estimated rise in prices of 10 per cent. The 5 per cent. reduction in the uprating of invalidity allowance last year is being restored. Heating and dietary additions to supplementary benefit, which are particularly helpful to many disabled people, will be increased in November by reference to the movement of the fuel and food components, respectively, of the retail prices index. Other additions to supplementary benefit which are based on the actual charges for the services provided will rise broadly in line with the increase in those charges.
As a result of earlier measures, people on supplementary benefit, apart from unemployed people, can now qualify for the higher rate of supplementary benefit after one year on benefit instead of two as previously; and 16- to 17-year-olds receiving non-contributory invalidity pension for a year qualify for the higher rate of supplementary benefit.