§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make it his policy to increase the level of all benefits for disabled people and carers to fully compensate them for their higher gas and electricity bills as a result of the introduction of a value added tax charge on domestic fuel;
(2) what measures his Department will take to compensate disabled people and carers, other than those on income-related benefits, for the introduction of a value added tax charge on domestic fuel.
§ Mr. ScottIn his Budget statement the Chancellor said that there would be extra help for poorer pensioners and those on low incomes; this includes many disabled people and carers. Also, this help would be additional to the uprating of benefits. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be announcing the details of this extra help in the autumn.
§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department is taking to measure the impact of a value added tax charge for domestic fuel on recipients of disability and carer's benefits.
§ Mr. ScottThe Department sponsors surveys which identify people with disabilities and the pattern of their expenditure.
The impact of a VAT charge for domestic fuel will be considered and our conclusions made public in the normal way in the autumn statement on benefit uprating. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made it clear that extra help will be given to poorer pensioners and others on low incomes.