§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has received to "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" from the Disability Alliance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe Disability Alliance has sent me a written response and was represented at a meeting that I held on 5 April with the Disability Benefits Consortium to discuss "The Way Ahead." We shall give careful consideration to all the alliance's comments in carrying forward the detailed work on our proposals.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has given any consideration to the introduction of a basic minimum income for all disabled people, irrespective of how their disability arose: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThere is a number of factors which have led us to conclude that a single disability income scheme is not the right course of action. First, we have aimed to provide a more simple and coherent system of financial help for disabled people. A single scheme which strived to cover a whole range of specific needs would be significantly more complicated than existing benefits, both for claimants to understand and for doctors and staff to adjudicate and administer. Secondly, by introducing the sort of points-related benefit suggested by some commentators, an unacceptably high number of people would stand to lose benefit entitlement. One of our major objectives is to provide a system which can get help quickly and effectively to those most in need.