§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what protection exists to ensure claimants' net income was not reduced when their community charge rebate was reduced as a result of this year's uprating to invalidity benefit; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many people in receipt of invalidity benefit and community charge rebate had a cut in their rebate in 1991–92 as a result of their increase in invalidity benefit; how many of them were worse off in net terms as a result; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeIncreases in invalidity benefit are taken into account when assessing entitlement to community charge benefit, but the personal allowances and premiums appropriate to community charge benefit were also uprated in April. Information is not available about the number of people in receipt of invalidity benefit whose community charge benefit has been reduced. However, we are not aware that there are any claimants in these circumstances who have not seen an overall increase in their net income from invalidity benefit after paying their rebated charge.