§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce details of the disability employment credit scheme; and on what basis the level of credit will be determined.
§ Mr. Scott"The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People" (Cmd. 917) set out the basic structure of the proposed disability employment credit, which, in the light of research and discussion, has now been renamed disability working allowance. A number of responses were received from organisations and individuals which were helpful in working up the provisions relating to disability working allowance set out in the Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance Bill.
A note giving more detailed information about the benefit, including elements which we propose to set out in regulations in due course, was published on 12 November 1990 and a copy was placed in the Library. This note included illustrative rates of benefit but the level at which the benefit would be introduced in April 1992 will not be settled until nearer the time.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to amend the payment rates of severe disablement allowance to take into account(a) those who do not have sufficient national insurance contributions, (b) those who have never worked and (c) women who have not worked outside the home for a number of years.
§ Mr. ScottI have no plans to do so. Severe disablement allowance is already paid to people in these circumstances. From this month age-related additions have been introduced to SDA which focus most help on those who become disabled early in life.