HC Deb 10 April 2001 vol 366 cc619-20W
Mr. Todd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review Social Fund adequacy and availability for those affected by foot and mouth disease. [157594]

Angela Eagle

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton) on 30 March 2001,Official Report, column 795W.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy(a) to review eligibility for Working Families Tax Credit and other benefits to take account of short-term drops in income as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak and (b) to make representation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to disregard as income on savings any compensation payments paid by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food whose purpose is to finance restocking of farms. [157837]

Dawn Primarolo

I have been asked to reply.

A new leaflet, WK11 "Foot and Mouth—Financial help you may get if your employment has been disrupted" has been produced to explain the financial help available to people, via the benefit and tax credit systems, whose employment or business is disrupted because of the foot and mouth outbreak. The leaflet is now available on the DSS website and stocks are being issued to local Benefits Agency offices, local authorities and other agencies in affected areas.

Compensation for the loss of a farmer's stock is treated as a business asset and will be disregarded when estimating income from personal capital.

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