HC Deb 19 December 1988 vol 144 cc111-3W
5. Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to be fully implemented.

28. Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to be fully implemented.

41. Mr. Rees

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to be fully implemented.

50. Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to be fully implemented.

Mr. Scott

We are making good progress on implementing the Act. Six key sections are now in force. The remaining sections will be implemented as and when the resources required are identified and made available. We have agreed with local authorities that the next priority is section 7, and we are discussing its resource implications.

19. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes in benefits to aid disabled people he is planning, in the light of the recent findings of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the Social Security Advisory Committee report.

42. Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes in benefits to aid disabled people he is planning, in the light of the recent findings of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the Social Security Advisory Committee report.

48. Mr. Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes in benefits to aid disabled people he is planning in the light of the recent findings of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the Social Security Advisory Committee report.

51. Dr. Reid

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will implement the proposals made by the Social Security Advisory Committee regarding disabled persons.

61. Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes in benefits to aid disabled people he is planning, in the light of the recent findings of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the Social Security Advisory Committee's report.

62. Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking in regard to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys' report on the financial circumstances of disabled people.

Mr. Scott

In the period up to July 1989 the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is publishing a series of reports on the findings of the surveys of disability in Great Britain carved out between 1985 and 1988. Two reports have already been published covering the prevalence of disability amongst adults and the financial circumstances of disabled adults in private households. Four more reports will follow. Taken together, the six reports will bring together the most comprehensive and detailed information ever collected about disabled people in this country.

On 29 November the Social Security Advisory Committee published a report, "Benefits for Disabled People: a Strategy for Change". In publishing the report the committee's chairman, Peter Barclay, recognised that the Government would need to wait until all the OPCS data were available before reaching any conclusions on whether there are better ways of providing help for disabled people. In examining the OPCS findings we will give careful consideration to the recommendations made in the SSAC report.

49. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much Government expenditure on the disabled has increased since 1979.

Mr. Scott

Expenditure on benefits for the long-term sick and disabled has increased from £2.1 billion in 1979–80 to £7.3 billion this year. This is an increase of £3.5 billion (or 90 per cent.) in real terms.