§ 17. Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by what criteria applications for assistance from the special fund to help the severely disabled are to be judged; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottI announced the eligibility criteria for the independent living fund in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 31 March. The fund will be primarily to make payments to very severely disabled people on low income who receive attendance allowance and need to employ domestic help to enable them to live independently in the community.
§ 18. Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there will be any mechanism for the review of or appeal against a refusal of assistance from the special fund set up to help the severely disabled.
§ Mr. ScottIt will be for the trustees of the independent living fund to determine how to deal with cases which have been turned down by the fund. I am sure that they will wish to give very careful consideration to any cases which give rise to dissatisfaction.
§ 32. Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the special fund set up to help the severely disabled to be in operation; and if he will make a statement.
§ 41. Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the special fund set up to help the severely disabled to be in operation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. Mackay) earlier today.
§ 39. Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there will be any mechanism for the review of or appeal against a refusal of assistance from the special fund set up to help the severely disabled.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Derbyshire North-East (Mr. Barnes) and Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mrs. Golding) earlier today.