§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the cost of extending the successor fund to the independent living fund to cover people over retirement age.
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§ Mr. ScottThe estimated cost of extending the successor fund for new cases to cover people over retirement age is £2 million in 1993–94, £6 million in 1994–95 and £9 million in 1995–96.
Source: based upon the level of applications to the existing independent living fund.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of help there were from the independent living fund in each region in the United Kingdom in 1991–92; and how many people are expected to be helped by the successor fund to the independent living fund in each region in the United Kingdom in 1993–94.
§ Mr. ScottThe number of people, in each region of the United Kingdom, in receipt of awards from the independent living fund, as at 31 March 1992, is in the table.
It is expected that, nationally, around 1,500 of the most severely disabled people of working age will receive cash payments to supplement services provided by local authorities. It is not possible to estimate a regional breakdown of this figures.
Region Number Percentage of total England 9,402 68.8 Northern Ireland 1,321 9.7 Scotland 2,288 16.7 Wales 659 4.8
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) under the proposed arrangements for replacing the independent living fund for new applicants how many people he estimates will be provided for by local authorities only and how many he estimates will be eligible for assistance from the new proposed trust fund; what funding he will make available to local authorities to meet the additional costs; and if he will ensure such funding is ring-fenced;
(2) what proportion of severely disabled people requiring provision from the local authority he estimates will require a cash payment from the new trust fund under the proposed new arrangements for providing personal assistance to severely disabled people following the closure of the independent living fund; what average percentage of their total cost of personal assistance he estimates this will represent; and how many people will lose entitlement to cash that they would have received had the independent living fund continued.
§ Mr. ScottFrom April 1993 local authorities have the primary responsibility for community care. All disabled people, including around 11,500 severely disabled people who might otherwise have looked to the independent living fund for cash help, will look to their local authority for help to live in the community. Additional funding for local authorities was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 26 November. This funding will be within the ring-fenced special transitional grant for community care.
We expect that around 1,500 of the most severely disabled people who get help from their local authority will also be able to get a cash payment from the new fund. For these cases, the local authority will be expected to pay for services up to the cost of residential or nursing care, with 154W the new fund providing a cash payment in addition. The size of the cash payment will vary according to the circumstances of the individual. Payments from the current independent living fund are entirely discretionary: there is no entitlement to any payment from the fund, which is a charitable trust.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision will be made under the proposed arrangements for replacing the independent living fund for severely disabled people seeking personal assistance provision following the winding up of the independent living fund and before the start of the new scheme in April 1993.
§ Mr. ScottLocal authorities have statutory duties to help disabled people. Help from the independent living fund (ILF) has always been in the form of a discretionary top-up to local authority services and the vast majority of ILF beneficiaries—and potential beneficiaries—are already getting help from their local authorities. Severely disabled people who would have applied to the ILF between now and April 1993 will, of course, be able to apply to the new body.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the budget of the independent living fund in 1991–92 was taken up in administration costs.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration costs of the independent living fund during 1991–92 were approximately 4 per cent. of total expenditure.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people over retirement age received help from the independent living fund in(a) 1991–92 and (b) from April 1992 until the fund was closed.
§ Mr. Scott(a) the only age breakdown available for 1991–92 is for November 1991. At that time, 37 per cent. of those receiving help were over 60.
(b) Figures for the current financial year show the position as at 30 November 1992 as being:
1. Number of independent living fund (ILF) clients over 60 (both sexes)—7,435–this figure represents 40.6 per cent. of the total caseload.2. Number of ILF clients over 65 (both sexes)—6,218 —this figure represents 34 per cent. of the total caseload.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the median and mean payments from the independent living fund were in(a) 1991–92 and (b) in 1992 until the fund was closed.
§ Mr. ScottData on median payments are not available. The mean award for 1991–92 was £88 per week. For the period to 31 October 1992 the mean award was £104, but this figure may change because awards are still being processed.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) of 2 December,Official Report, column 233, what right of independent appeal there will be for an applicant refused help under the arrangements to replace the independent living fund.
§ Mr. ScottArrangements for appeal will be a matter for the trustees of the successor body. I understand that under 155W the current scheme any disagreement with a decision is considered by two trustees or, exceptionally, by the whole body of trustees.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Canterbury of 2 December,Official Report, column 233, how much of the budget of £4 million for the successor fund to the independent living fund is for administration costs.
§ Mr. ScottIt is estimated that the administration costs of the successor fund for new cases will not exceed 10 per cent. of the total provision of £4 million.