§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of the Welfare to Work policies on people suffering from brain injuries. [27952]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Government believe that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. We have set aside up to £195 under the New Deal for people with a disability or long-term illness to fund a programme improving opportunities for those who want to work. Participation in the New Deal, which will be voluntary, will not be restricted to people suffering from any particular disability or long-term illness. People suffering from disabilities arising from brain injuries will be eligible, along with other groups. The impact of our Welfare to Work programme will be evaluated in due course.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research she has commissioned into the employment prospects of people suffering from brain injuries. [27950]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Department has funded a substantial programme of research into people with disabilities, including information on their employment prospects, but none of the recent studies focuses specifically on people suffering from brain injuries.