§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has received a copy of the report of the Disablement Income Group, "Tell me what you want and I'll get it for you", detailing the extra cost of shopping for the disabled; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he is planning to issue a discussion document on a disablement costs allowance that would help offset the higher costs of shopping and other extra costs of daily living as a disabled person; and whether he will make a statement;
(3) if he has made any estimate of the higher costs incurred by disabled people in shopping for basic requirements; what representations he has received on the subject; and if he will make a statement.
190W
Regional Health Authority Manpower Baselines and Targets Region Staff in post 31 March 1983 Target for 31 March 1984 Change between 1983 and 1984 Whole time equivalent Percentage Northern 54,100 53,914 -186 -0.34 Yorkshire 61,855 61,591 -264 -0.43 Trent 74,009 74,529 520 +0.70 East Anglian 29,861 30,235 374 +1.25 North-West Thames 59,626 58,626 -1,000 -1.68 North-East Thames 73,749 72,549 -1,200 -1.63 South-East Thames 66,364 65,283 -1,081 -1.63 South-West Thames 50,139 49,409 -730 -1.46 Wessex 43,875 43,915 40 +0.09 Oxford 34,047 34,276 229 +0.67 South Western 53,047 52,923 -124 -0.23 West Midlands 84,050 83,910 -140 -0.17 Mersey 44,844 44,338 -506 -1.13 North-Western 76,160 75,598 -562 -0.74 Special health authorities/boards of governors 11,907 11,700 -207 -1.74 Total 817,633 812,796 -4,837 -0.59
§ Mr. NewtonWe have received a copy of the report, which we are studying. There are no comparable official estimates. A number of organisations representing disabled people, most recently the Disablement Income Group, have made representations about the need for some form of disablement costs allowance. We have taken note of these proposals, but have no present plans for a discussion document.
There are already benefits for which substantial numbers of disabled people may qualify which help to offset costs arising from disability. Over 300,000 receive mobility allowance which is available to assist those who are unable or virtually unable to walk. Some 415,000 of the most severely disabled receive attendance allowance, which is designed to provide help with additional expenses such as extra heating, special fittings, expensive diet, extra laundry and wear and tear on clothes and furniture. Disabled people who receive supplementary benefit may also be entitled to additions to help pay for extra heating, diet and laundry costs.