HC Deb 08 March 1988 vol 129 cc161-2W
23. Mr. John Garrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what resources are being allocated to the special fund his Department is setting up in co-operation with the Disablement Income Group.

28. Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to indicate the cost to the Government of the special fund his Department is setting up with the Disablement Income Group.

45. Mr. Ray Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what sums he expects to be made available by his Department to the Disablement Income Group for the special fund for assisting people with disabilities who will have a reduced social security entitlement in April.

Mr. Scott

Up to £5 million has been set aside for the fund in 1988–89. The level of funding for future years will be considered in the light of experience.

30. Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what monitoring will take place of the implementation of the Disabled Person (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act, with particular regard to the interests of mentally ill people.

44. Mr. Galbraith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to monitor the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

Mr. Scott

The particular needs of people who suffer from a mental disorder will be considered within the monitoring exercise which I mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) earlier today.

65. Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Disablement Income Group before and after the Announcement of new measures to assist very severely disabled people.

Mr. Scott

The discussions are continuing. The Disablement Income Group is working with my officials to devise criteria of eligibility for payment from the fund and is giving advice on other administrative matters. As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) today the fund's trustees will include individuals nominated by the Disablement Income Group.

The dicsussions I held with the Disablement Income Group and other organisations of and for disabled people before the announcement of the fund were informal and those who gave their advice did so in confidence.

101. Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of discrimination against disabled people have been referred to his Department in each of the past four years.

Mr. Scott

The numbers of complaints of alleged discrimination against disabled people referred to the Department in each of the last four years are as follows:

Number
1984 3
1985 2
1986 0
1987 4

In addition we have so far received two complaints in 1988.