§ Sir Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the saving in the whole range of social security benefits, including exemption from prescription charges and other associated benefits, if everybody were deemed to have earned £100 per week between the ages of 18 to 65 years who was fit and able to work.
§ Mr. Scott[holding answer 6 December 1993]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. It is estimated that if everybody between the ages of 18 to 65 who was fit and able to work earned £100 per week gross of tax and national insurance contributions there would be a reduction in expenditure on social security benefits and on welfare foods and free school meals for social security benefits recipients of approximately £17 billion in the financial year. It is not possible to estimate what effect this change would have on the NHS low-income scheme which exempts those on low incomes from prescription, dental and optical charges.
1062WLetter from Tony Laurance to Mr. Barry Field, dated 16 December 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is the responsibility of Mr. Michael Bichard to answer questions about relevant operational matters. However, as Mr. Bichard is away on annual leave at the moment, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security. This was about the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim for D. Hadlow.I should explain that all claims to DLA are decided by independent adjudicating authorities who are specially appointed for this purpose under legislation approved by Parliament. They are responsible for deciding if the conditions for entitlement ere satisfied. Neither Ministers nor officials of the Benefits Agency can influence or alter decisions made by these authorities.In order to provide you with the full details personal to this case I have written separately to you.