§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he intends to take to advertise the new disability allowances; and at what time of day he intends adverts to be screened on television.
§ Mr. ScottThe advertising campaign for disability living allowance and disability working allowance commenced on 5 February. The campaign includes television commercials, supported by advertising in the national, local, specialist and ethnic press, as well as a number of other publications. The television commercials are being shown at various times throughout the day and evening, on both ITV and Channel 4. The current schedule is available in the Library. The advertisements invite people to telephone a freephone number or send off a coupon to a freepost address to obtain the "Guide to New Benefits for Disabled People".
The advertisements form part of a larger publicity campaign targeted at disabled people, carers, advisers and health professionals. As part of this campaign, we have written to over 1 million existing beneficiaries of attendance allowance and mobility allowance to let them know about the benefit changes and how to claim extra help, if appropriate. We are also writing to organisations of and for disabled people, advisers and health professionals—such as doctors, nurses and therapists—telling them about the benefits and how they can help their clients and patients to claim. We are also making use of the new out-of-hours service BBC Select to broadcast a series of information programmes about DLA and DWA.
The key materials—including the commercials and advertisements—have been researched with disabled people, and the campaign has been prepared in liaison with representatives of organisations of and for disabled people.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what training and advice has been given to staff in preparation for the introduction of the new disability allowances on 15 April.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of the new disability benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief 451W executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member, and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.