§ 61. Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled people will benefit from the changes in the 1990 uprating of social security benefits.
§ Mr. ScottWe estimate that over 500,000 disabled people and their carers will benefit from the changes announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 25 October.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether he has any plans to invite evidence from interested parties and independent experts when drawing up his proposals on social security benefits for the disabled;
(2) whether he has any plans to review the eligibility criteria of mobility allowance so that people with a visual handicap qualify.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 13 November at columns51–52.
§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to increase the level of benefits paid to disabled persons to a level that will allow them to meet the full costs incurred to them by their disability outwith the spending of the non-disabled benefits allowance;
(2) what plans he has to increase the level of benefits paid to disabled persons in employment so that their income can equate to that of the national average.
§ Mr. ScottMy right hon. Friend has already announced on 25 October at columns 841–54 a range of improvements in benefits for disabled people and their families. Some of these assist people who, because of their disability, incur additional expenditure or have only limited earning capacity. We intend to bring forward within the next few months more far-reaching proposals, to improve the balance and structure of social security provision for disabled people.