Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for financial assistance were made to the independent living fund during 1988 and 1989 from people living in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas ScottThe information requested is not available for Wales only. The independent living fund is currently helping 202 people in Wales and has helped 215 people in Wales since July 1989.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are(a) the estimated expenditure targets and (b) the projected Government grants awarded to the independent living fund for (i) 1990 and (ii) 1991.
§ Mr. ScottThe independent living fund's budget was doubled to more than £10 million in 1989–90 and has been doubled again to well over £20 million in 1990–91. Estimated expenditure targets are not available for 1990–91.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to reduce the resources of the independent living fund during the next financial year.
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§ Mr. ScottWe have no plans to reduce the resources of the independent living fund in 1990–91. Indeed we have more than doubled its resources to well over £20 million in 1990–91.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled people have been helped by the independent living fund since its inception; and if he will categorise them according to the nature of their disability.
§ Mr. ScottThe independent living fund has helped 4,264 disabled people up to the end of February 1990. Sufficient information is not available in order for them to be categorised by the nature of their disability.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money has been awarded in grants by the independent living fund since its inception; if he will categorise them according to the purpose for which they have been made; and what proportion is in the form of(a) single grants and (b) regular payments.
§ Mr. ScottThe independent living fund had awarded a total of £8.3 million in benefit up to the end of February 1990. Information detailing the specific purpose for which payments have been made is not available.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will ensure that the independent living fund has sufficient resources to continue to provide for those urgent needs of disabled people which are not met by social security provision, the local authorities or the Health Service;
(2) if he will ensure that the independent living fund has sufficient resources to ensure that the regular payments it makes to disabled people can continue as long as the need remains;
(3) if he will ensure that the independent living fund has sufficient resources to ensure consistency in its awards to disabled people throughout its financial year;
(4) if he will make a statement on the funding and future of the independent living fund.
§ Mr. ScottProvision for the independent living fund was doubled to more than £10 million this year and doubled again to well over £20 million for 1990–91. However, the success of the fund means that much of this provision is committed to existing beneficiaries or to those to whom offers of help have already been made.
We intend to meet the trustees of the fund shortly to discuss how best to proceed in these changed circumstances.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in theOfficial Report the main objectives of the independent living fund.
§ Mr. ScottThe aim of the independent living fund is to provide, subject to the provisions and powers laid down in the trust deed, financial assistance to very severely disabled people who are in need of such assistance to enable them to live independently.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will request the independent living fund to monitor the claims it receives so as to assess the variation in local authority response to requests for help with the needs of disabled people; and if he will provide them with the funds to do so.
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§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has received from the trustees of the independent living fund regarding the funds they require for 1990–91 to continue to respond to requests for help from disabled people in a way that is consistent with their established practice.
§ Mr. ScottWe have received no such estimate from the trustees of the independent living fund. We are hoping to meet the trustees shortly to discuss their requirements for 1990–91.