Long-stay Patient Benefit

HC Deb 09 May 2002 vol 385 cc312-3W

Mr. Laxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to raise the level of benefit given to long-stay patients. [51545]

Mr. McCartney

There are no plans to change the level to which benefits are reduced for hospital in-patients who have been in hospital for more than 52 weeks.

The hospital downrating rules prevent double provision from public funds as the publicly funded NHS maintains people while they stay in hospital as well as providing free treatment. Social security maintenance benefits are also paid from state funds.

The double provision principle is a key cornerstone of the system of national insurance introduced over 50 years ago.

Mr. Laxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the United Kingdom are in receipt of long-stay patient benefit because they suffer from mental illness. [51542]

Mr. McCartney

The information requested is not available.