§ Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet decided how to spend the money saved by abolishing injury benefit and improving the benefits provided under the industrial injuries scheme as foreshadowed in the White Paper "Perform of the Industrial Injuries Scheme"—Cmnd. 8402.
§ Mr. FowlerMy hon. Friend the Minister of State for Social Security tabled an amendment yesterday to the Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill. It will make disablement benefit available 15 weeks after an accident or the development of an industrial disease. This will be of substantial benefit to the more seriously disabled who will no longer have to wait 26 weeks before getting the benefit and its supplements. In addition, by providing a standard date from which benefit can be paid, the change will simplify the scheme.