§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much of the £195 million New Deal for Disabled People funding for helping people with disabilities with employment had been spent at 31 December 1999; and how much of the sum spent by that date was spent on supporting the care packages of severely disabled people in full-time employment. [HL934]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)195 million (£186 million for Great Britain) has been set aside for the New Deal for Disabled People over the lifetime of this Parliament. As at 31 December 1999, £11.75 million had been spent on pilots offering extra help and support for people on incapacity benefits who want to work. We hope to make an announcement shortly about the next stage of the New Deal for Disabled People taking account of emerging findings from the pilots. None of the £195 million has been set aside specifically for care packages for severely disabled people in full-time employment. However, it is open for personal advisers to provide a wide range of in-work support, including arrangements to supplement care packages where necessary to meet individual needs.