§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of changing the rule affecting vaccine damaged children who have received payment of £10,000 to allow them to receive supplementary benefit where they are in need of it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThe supplementary benefit regulations already provide for the complete disregard of vaccine damage payments where these are held in trust for a child. It is estimated that the cost of extending the disregard to persons claiming benefit in their own right would be something under £300,000 in the first year, increasing thereafter; there would also be a small staff cost.