§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors underlie his policy in respect of uprating(a) lone parent premium, (b) one parent benefit, (c) earning limit for invalid care allowance and (d) social fund cold weather payment.[4124]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellThis year's uprating statement combines further measures to control the growth of Social Security spending with action to strengthen work incentives.
The lone parent premium and one parent benefit will not be increased in April 1996. The aim over time is to bring the benefits which go to lone parent families more in line with those that go to couples with children. Lone parents will benefit from the increases that go to all families next year.
Invalid care allowance will be uprated along with other benefits next year. The earnings limit will be kept under review.
249WSocial fund cold weather payments are intended to give extra help to particularly vulnerable people for higher heating costs as a result of a sustained period of very cold weather. Payments increased from £6 to £7 from 1 November 1994 to reflect the imposition of VAT on domestic fuel. The Chancellor announced on 8 December 1994 that they would increase again from £7 to £8.50 from 1 November 1995. This is a 40 per cent. increase since April 1994.