HC Deb 13 December 1991 vol 200 cc573-4W
Mr. Kilfedder

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what improvements he plans to make in benefit for disabled people.

Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone
Total number of farmers receiving payments
1989 2 1 5 — 5 —
1990 1 1 3 — 3 —
1991 — 1 3 — 1 —
Horse-based activities (1989) 1 — (1990) 1 — (1989) 1 —
— — (1991) 2 — (1990) 1 —
Golf courses — — — — (1991) 1 —
Game cover for commercial shoots — — — — — —
Sports grounds — — — — — —
Other recreational — — — — — —
Others (1989) 1 (1989) 1 (1989) 5 — (1989) 4 —
(1990) 1 (1990) 1 (1990) 2 — (1990) 2 —
— (1991) 1 (1991) 1 — — —

Uptake in Northern Ireland has been very limited, of a total arable area of 64.949 hectares only 331 hectares, which representing 0.5 per cent. of the total area, have been set aside in the first 3 years of the scheme.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the numbers of landowners in Northern Ireland that are currently receiving annual payments under the set-aside scheme of(a) between £5,000 and £9,999, (b) between £10,000 and £19,999, (c) between £20,000 and £29,999, (d) between £30,000 and

Mr. Hanley

From April 1992, the Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 introduces two new social security benefits for disabled people in Northern Ireland at the same time as these benefits are introduced for the rest of the United Kingdom.

The new disability working allowance will be payable to disabled people in employment who have a reduced work capacity because of their disability. This will be the first benefit in this country specifically intended to help disabled people to work even if their earning capacity is reduced.

The new disability living allowance will be both tax free and non-income related. For people disabled before the age of 65, it will replace and extend the help with the extra costs of disability currently available through attendance allowance and mobility allowance.

The order also provides for an improved claims and adjudication system for disability living allowance and attendance allowance for people over 65.