§ Lord Alportasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider revising the disregard level for eligibility for social security payments for persons in receipt of ex gratia pensions from registered private charities from £208 per annum to £400 in view of the savings this would make for the Exchequer.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonAll increases to disregards have a public expenditure cost since they increase the amount of benefit paid to those with relevant other income. We have no immediate plans to revise the disregard of charitable payments. However, we shall be putting forward proposals to increase the amount of any voluntary or charitable payment that can be disregarded in the new income support scheme from April 1988 from £4 to £5 a week. The disregard level will apply also to the new housing benefit and family credit schemes.