§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any proposals to amend the income support regulations relating to the award of severe disability premium to persons receiving attendance allowance.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe income support regulations provide for the severe disability premium to be awarded to people with attendance allowance who live in private households on their own, or with someone else on a commercial basis, provided no-one gets invalid care allowance for their care. On 21 February 1991 the Court of Appeal, in the case of Foster, confirmed that the Social Security Act 1986 provides the power to make these rules. We have no plans to change this arrangement.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost to his Department of the appeal case of the Secretary of State for Social Security and of the chief adjudication officer v. Foster relating to awards of severe disability premium; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation is not routinely kept about internal costs of individual cases which go to the Court of Appeal, since the legal work involved is part of the normal function of the solicitor's office. Fees to counsel and to the court are not yet fully known, but are expected to be about £2,000 in total.