§ Mr. Butterfillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of supplementary benefit claimants receiving the £1.25 weekly addition for blindness in December 1983; and what was the estimated cost of that addition for the preceding 12 months.
§ Mr. NewtonThe final results of the "Annual Statistical Enquiry" for December 1983 are not yet available. Provisional figures suggest that the number of supplementary benefit claimants receiving the £1.25 weekly addition for blindness in December 1983 was about 36,000, at an estimated total cost in the preceding 12 months of about £2.3 million.
§ Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from organisations acting for blind people about a blindness allowance.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have received over 100 representations from hon. and right hon. Members referring to a campaign for a blindness allowance organised by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind and the National League of the Blind and Disabled. I have agreed to meet with representatives from these organisations today.
§ Mr. Butterfillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the value of the additional allowance payable to a blind person in receipt of supplementary benefit at September 1984 prices if it had been maintained in real terms at the level of its introduction as a separate allowance in July 1948.
§ Mr. NewtonThe extra allowance for blind people on supplementary benefit was 15 shillings (75 pence) in July 1948. On the basis of the index currently used for up-rating supplementary benefit—that is, the retail price index, less the housing costs component— if it had been maintained in real terms at this level its value at September 1984 prices would be £8.06.