HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc109-10W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will introduce greater flexibility in terms of(a) hours, (b) wages and (c) types of work considered therapeutic for the assessment of therapeutic earnings. [43566]

Mr. Denham

The Government announced in the Green Paper, "New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", changes to the benefits system to encourage disabled people who have the capacity to work to do so. Once we have seen the results of these initiatives we will then consider whether further changes are needed to the work claimants are permitted to undertake whilst retaining benefit.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will disregard therapeutic earnings up to the present therapeutic earnings limit for the purposes of income support and housing benefit calculations. [43565]

Mr. Keith Bradley

For people in receipt of the disability premium there is a disregard of £15 in Income Support and Housing Benefit. There are no plans to introduce a special therapeutic earnings disregard in these benefits.