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House of Commons
Monday 6 February 1989
The House met at half-past Two o'clock
PRAYERS
[Mr. Speaker-- in the Chair ]
Oral Answers to Questions
SOCIAL SECURITY
Disability Benefit
1. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have received disability benefit in the present financial year ; and how many received it in 1978-79.
The Minister for Social Security (Mr. Nicholas Scott) : Since 1978- 79 there have been large increases in the numbers of people receiving benefits because of long-term sickness or disability. For example, the numbers receiving invalidity benefit have increased by 88 per cent. to 1.1 million ; attendance allowance by 186 per cent. to 760,000 ; and mobility allowance by 458 per cent. to 530,000. I shall, with permission, circulate full details in the Official Report.
Mr. Stevens : I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. It shows the Government's continuing commitment to helping those with disabilities. I am sure that it will be welcomed not only by disabled people, but by all members of the community. Will my hon. Friend comment on the expenditure required in real terms in the present year compared with that in 1978-79?
Mr. Scott : This year expenditure will amount to some £7.3 billion, which represents a £3.5 billion real terms increase over the 1978-79 figure.
Mr. Simon Hughes : Is the Minister aware that there are quite a number of people who are registered as disabled, yet who do not qualify as disabled for the purpose of housing benefit? Does he have any idea of the numbers involved? Does he have any proposals to remedy this, and to ensure that those who qualify receive their benefit more quickly than is sometimes the case?
Mr. Scott : We are always anxious to ensure that benefits are paid speedily once people have qualified for them. I shall look into the hon. Gentleman's point about housing benefit.
Mr. Marlow : Does my hon. Friend agree with me that, while we can take pride in the fact that, as a party and a Government, we have been far more generous--quite rightly so--to the disabled than the Labour party, it is also fair to point out that, at this important Question Time, there are only four Labour Back Benchers in the Chamber?
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Mr. Scott : I am afraid that the Opposition must answer for that.
Mr. Alfred Morris : While everyone knows that more claimants means higher costs, how many disablement benefits have not increased in real value since 1979? How many disabled people lost free prescriptions and free school meals last April? How many are on transitional protection and will thus have no increase in their benefits this April? Will their standard of living not, therefore, slump as rising prices eat further into this so- called protection? Again, how many disabled people have had their housing benefit cut?
Mr. Scott : I can understand the hon. Gentleman clutching at straws as he tries to protect the Labour Government's record. Of the £3.5 billion extra money in real terms which this Government are spending on benefits for the long-term sick and disabled, some £3 billion is because of the wider scope of those benefits--more people are applying for them--and £ billion is because of increases in real terms in the level of benefits.
Following is the information :
Estimated average numbers of weekly benefit payments at any one
time
Numbers
Benefit |1978-79 |1988-89
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Invalidity Benefit |600,000 |1,130,000
Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit |210,000 |210,000
War Disablement Pension |291,000 |195,000
Attendance Allowance |265,000 |760,000
Invalid Care Allowance |6,000 |100,000
NCIP/SDA |150,000 |265,000
Mobility Allowance |95,000 |530,000
Income-related benefits |355,000 |450,000
|---------|---------
|1,972,000|3,640,000
Notes: Beneficiaries may be receiving more than one benefit at any
one time.
Social Fund
2. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operation of the social fund to date.
The Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. John Moore) : We have been closely monitoring the social fund, and the original fears which were expressed about the adequacy of its budget, the introduction of loans, the discretionary nature of the scheme and the review system, have proved to be unfounded. Loans have reached anticipated levels of expenditure and community care grants have steadily risen to 77 per cent. of anticipated monthly expenditure. Over 600,000 interest-free loans have been made and more than 86, 000 community care grants have been awarded. The review system is proving to be a speedy and effective means of handling disputed decisions. Reviews are completed in a matter of days rather than the weeks it took for an appeal to be completed.
Ms. Quin : Despite what the Minister has said, will he agree that urgent changes in the way that the social fund works are needed, especially if those who deserve grants are to be in a position to take them up? Will he agree that
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so far all the independent evidence shows that the social fund has failed to relieve the poverty which the Government said it was designed to tackle?Mr. Moore : I had hoped that the hon. Lady would have listened to what I said before she read out her prepared question. I shall continue, as the Government must and should, to monitor the situation. I am not completely content because I believe that the officers have been applying the conditions for the community care grants too rigidly. I am determined to ensure that it is a success and that all of the fundamental objections raised when the social fund was first introduced are disproved.
Mr. McCrindle : I welcome a large part of my right hon. Friend's reply. Does that mean that the fears that have been expressed by some--dare I remind him, on both sides of the House--that the cash-limited arrangements may prove inadequate, are likely to be allayed? Is he satisfied that the money allocated will be adequate at least in this financial year? To put this matter in perspective, will my right hon. Friend remind the House what would happen if the amount allocated proved to be inadequate?
Mr. Moore : My hon. Friend is right to remind the House that we announced in the uprating statement the allocation for 1989-90, which was confirmed in the autumn statement and in the recent public expenditure White Paper. Despite a happy massive reduction in unemployment and therefore a major reduction in case load, those allocations have been maintained. Therefore there should be an increase per case in the funds available. I hope that that will reassure my hon. Friend. I know that he takes a serious interest in this and I know that he will have noted carefully what I said in my opening answer.
Miss Lestor : When the Minister reviews the social fund, will he consider particularly some of the problems that have arisen in Salford--I am sure similar problems have been encountered in other places--where people who have been in hospital a long time and those in residential care who cannot get other accommodation, have had to refuse private rented accommodation because the social fund does not cover deposits that are required in that sector? He also said that he would make some comment to the House on the Barnado's report on the problems of youngsters coming out of care and their accommodation difficulties. Will he do so now?
Mr. Moore : Obviously I will watch carefully how the social fund works because I am determined to ensure that this much more effective method of helping those in need is monitored and adjusted if necessary. Recently I met representatives of certain organisations who raised the difficulties that they believe are being faced by a particular group of 16 and 17-year-olds. Obviously I shall consider that matter with care.
I should stress to the hon. Lady that if one considers the different offices and the differential way in which the rules on community care grants in particular are applied, one realises that serious application by social workers, by local authorities and by diligent Members of Parliament- -I know that the hon. Lady is such a Member--will ensure that community care grants are effectively spent.
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Mrs. Roe : Can my right hon. Friend tell the House whether there are any items or expenses, previously excluded from the single payment expenses, which are now covered under the social fund?
Mr. Moore : My hon. Friend is right to remind me that, because it is a discretionary fund, there are many examples of local expenditure that all sides of the House would welcome. One office, for example, paid for a holiday for a family whose young daughter had been seriously sexually abused--not surprisingly all the family had been under considerable stress. In another case a £500 grant was given for a teletext television for a deaf elderly pensioner, living alone, who had become extremely isolated. I could give many other illustrations of payments which could not have been covered under the old single payments system.
Mr. Fearn : Is the Secretary of State aware that many offices are now reporting problems because people are having great difficulty in trying to fill in the 17-page form? Has he any ideas for changing that form, which is causing a great deal of trouble?
Mr. Moore : On a previous occasion my hon. Friend the Minister of State said that we were looking at the form and we shall continue to do so. When that form is filled out with the help of the staff at local offices, it is producing considerable success in terms of the numbers of applications for grants. I am constantly looking at all of our forms because I am anxious to ensure that those who are entitled to receive those benefits with the help of the form and our offices.
Personal Pension Schemes
3. Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many personal pension schemes have been established at the latest available date.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. Peter Lloyd) : Nearly 1 million people have opted so far to take outa personal pension, through 122 personal pension schemes.
Mr. Stern : I am most grateful for that reply. Does my hon. Friend recollect the way in which the Opposition fought the principle of personal pensions line by line and clause by clause during consideration of the Social Security Bill 1986? Does he agree that that shows, once again, how the Opposition object to any extension of freedom, although more than 1 million people have so far supported this extension of freedom?
Mr. Lloyd : My hon. Friend is quite right when he says that there was no enthusiasm by the Opposition for personal pensions. The figures that I have just given my hon. Friend show that there is enormous enthusiasm among those sections of the work force which, by and large, were not eligible to join the occupational pension schemes. Quite clearly, they wanted to do so.
Businessr j 3-1 of Service" (Report)
4. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is acting on any of the recommendations made in the "Business of Service" report.
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12. Mr. Patnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how relocation of social security office work out of London will affect service to the customer.
Mr. Moore : I have accepted most of the recommendations of the "Business of Service" report and I am in the process of implementing them. Relocating some social security work will enable us to improve the current unsatisfactory service that customers receive in some London offices. By moving backroom work out of London we shall be able to provide a better, more efficient and responsive service to our customers. All the affected London offices will remain open, some on better sites, and more branch offices will be opened in poorly served areas.
Mr. Summerson : Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that no social security offices in my constituency will be closed? If any are closed that will obviously result in a far worse service to my constituents.
Mr. Moore : As I have said, there are no proposals to close offices although some are not regarded by our staff as being in the best locations to serve my hon. Friend's customers who are also, happily, his constituents.
Mr. Patnick : Will my right hon. Friend tell us the effect of moving the London social security offices to the regions? Are any scheduled to go to Sheffield, Hallam? Assuming that the answer is no, will he consider moving some there because I am sure that that would benefit the city greatly?
Mr. Moore : On this occasion I cannot give any joy to my hon. Friend. I commend him for the way in which he argues for his constituents. The three social security centres that I announced recently will be in Glasgow, Belfast and the Wigan area. We shall, of course, consider further relocation for parts of my headquarter operation. I shall take seriously the interests of the assisted areas in parts of the country where, tragically, there are still higher levels of unemployment than I would like.
Mrs. Beckett : Will the Secretary of State confirm that in the computer projects, on whose efficient operation the success of this proposal depends, the social fund program for example is now running on its sixth version and still contains 100 mistakes? Is he aware that when queries are made at local offices about delays and mistakes in the payment of benefits that are handled centrally, such as some disability benefits, the usual answer is, "That has nothing to do with us, it is a matter for Blackpool, Glasgow or Newcastle"--or wherever? It is widely believed that these delays occur because there is not enough staff at those locations to cope with the workload. Does the Secretary of State expect the House to believe that the proposals will lead to an improved service while still saving £4 million a year?
Mr. Moore : The hon. Lady is wrong, and not only on the detailed facts about the computer program. I had hoped that she would wish to commend it because, despite the initial teething troubles in parts of the computer program, it is one of the most successful operations by civil servants that I have seen in our country for generations. However, that is not relevant to the actual decisions. I am sure that the hon. Lady knows that the key problems relate to the difficulties of many employers in London about high wastage, rates, working conditions and the costs of London work. I noted carefully the warm reaction by
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many hon. Members to the sensible relocation to those areas of the country that will benefit. That relocation also helps customers, staff and the taxpayer.Mr. Colin Shepherd : In his laudable attempts to improve the service to the customer by the relocation of Social Security Department facilities, will my right hon. Friend bend his mind to the facilities that have already been relocated? The attendance allowance delays that are reported to me in my surgery are getting far and away out of hand. There is inordinate delay in dealing with applications and appeals relating to attendance allowance. That needs to be corrected. Will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking to do so?
Mr. Moore : Of course. My hon. Friend makes a fair point. We are discussing relocation and the ability of our centres to give good customer service, whether on family credit or attendance allowance. I am determined to achieve such a service. Despite current difficulties we have seen considerable improvements in the last year.
Social Fund (St. Helens)
5. Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the social fund allocation for his Department's offices in St. Helens for the next two years.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I will, with permission, circulate details of the social fund allocations for 1989-90 to offices in Great Britain in the Official Report. I shall also place a copy in the Library. The allocation to St. Helens is £806,802 comprising £574,468 for loans and £232,334 for grants. Decisions on the allocations for 1990-91 will be made nearer that time.
Mr. Evans : Is the Minister aware that in St. Helens, the DSS has spent less than 40 per cent. of this year's budget for community grants? Does he accept that one of the reasons for this is the bewildering complexity of the forms that applicants have to fill in? I recently spent over an hour filling in one of those forms for a confused pensioner. Will the Minister give an undertaking that when he fixes the budgets for the next two years, he will greatly simplify the application forms? That would greatly improve the take-up, because the problem is that people do not understand the forms.
Mr. Lloyd : The hon. Member will be pleased to know that the expenditure of his local office on grants in December went up to 50 per cent. I should like to place on record the appreciation of the local office of his interest in seeing that these grants are paid to the people who need them.
Such a constructive approach will help to ensure that this money, which is intended for those in most need, gets to them. If we can also assist by improving the forms still further, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said, we shall certainly do so. As these grants go to those in the community in most need of assistance, we depend on other organisations, local Members of Parliament and social services departments to assist in ensuring that the money reaches the people for whom it is intended.
Following are the details :
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Social Fund
Budget allocations 1989-90
|Loans |Grants |Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. London (North) Region
Acton |285,951 |124,062 |410,013
Aylesbury |133.151 |59,100 |192,251
Banbury |87,735 |38,153 |125,888
Barking |313,684 |140,139 |453,824
Barnet |100,310 |46,161 |146,471
Basildon |515,435 |228,294 |743,729
Bedford |247,883 |107,485 |355,368
Braintree |133,622 |59,026 |192,647
Bury St. Edmunds |150,749 |66,576 |217,325
Cambridge |258,778 |117,435 |376,213
Canning Town |263,616 |110,592 |374,208
Chelmsford |133,780 |60,757 |194,537
Clacton |109,000 |48,123 |157,124
Colchester |179,783 |77,927 |257,710
Cricklewood |250,516 |107,215 |357,731
Diss |34,061 |15,683 |49,745
Dunstable |89,722 |40,087 |129,809
Ealing |266,310 |115,991 |382,301
Edgware |161,636 |69,648 |231,284
Edmonton |228,510 |101,596 |330,105
Euston |254,847 |109,969 |364,816
Finsbury Park |505,202 |217,845 |723,047
Grays |234,643 |104,912 |339,555
Great Yarmouth |203,304 |92,448 |295,752
Hackney |654,199 |275,244 |929,443
Harlesden |437,683 |190,576 |628,259
Harlow |201,413 |89,825 |291,238
Harrow |194,377 |82,843 |277,220
Hemel Hempstead |117,928 |53,616 |171,544
Hendon |231,161 |101,149 |332,310
Hertford |111,065 |49,724 |160,790
High Wycombe |160,748 |74,785 |235,532
Highgate |391,619 |169,589 |561,208
Hoxton |385,192 |169,034 |554,226
Ilford |378,610 |167,826 |546,436
Ipswich |263,156 |114,982 |378,138
Kings Lynn |247,648 |108,361 |356,009
Leytonstone |327,224 |144,319 |471,543
Lowestoft |186,885 |82,482 |269,366
Luton |348,434 |143,619 |492,053
Milton Keynes |290,573 |124,913 |415,486
Neasden |398,912 |166,445 |565,357
Norwich Chantry |286,113 |125,940 |412,054
Norwich Mountergate |454,483 |192,742 |647,225
Notting Hill |236,467 |100,841 |337,309
Oxford |442,510 |188,702 |631,212
Paddington |364,673 |168,491 |533,164
Peterborough |646,116 |273,462 |919,578
Plaistow |357,728 |152,462 |510,190
Poplar |366,524 |155,452 |521,976
Romford |213,071 |97,879 |310,950
Shoreditch |342,534 |153,003 |495,537
Southall |209,844 |95,113 |304,957
Southend |274,268 |120,203 |394,471
St. Albans |120,455 |55,978 |176,434
Stepney |198,289 |84,902 |283,191
Stevenage |198,476 |85,672 |284,148
Stoke Newington |308,676 |132,623 |441,299
Thames North |19,115 |6,861 |25,976
Tottenham |440,379 |187,222 |627,601
Uxbridge |121,234 |52,991 |174,225
Walthamstow |262,535 |118,346 |380,881
Watford |119,905 |55,380 |175,285
Wood Green |201,433 |92,723 |294,155
Woodgrange Park |587,725 |246,991 |834,716
|----------|----------|----------
Totals |17,241,606|7,512,537 |24,754,143
2. London (South) region
Aldershot |169,186 |72,675 |241,861
Andover |66,391 |30,294 |96,685
Ashford |104,572 |47,027 |151,599
Balham |418,883 |179,798 |598,680
Basingstoke |83,582 |35,833 |119,415
Battersea |424,376 |191,711 |616,087
Bexley |243,385 |108,041 |351,426
Bloomsbury |181,066 |84,079 |265,145
Bognor Regis |108,363 |48,769 |157,132
Bracknell |104,382 |47,919 |152,301
Brighton |358,554 |161,888 |520,443
Brixton |381,073 |170,379 |551,452
Bromley |157,237 |72,107 |229,344
Camberwell |409,866 |175,936 |585,802
Canterbury |123,008 |58,173 |181,181
Chatham |270,121 |109,755 |379,876
Chelsea |331,875 |143,897 |475,772
Chichester |60,968 |28,308 |89,276
City (London) |99,362 |44,892 |144,254
Crawley |122,128 |54,771 |176,899
Croydon |346,726 |151,909 |498,635
Crystal Palace |394,266 |179,061 |573,329
Dartford |99,943 |45,234 |145,176
Dover |92,882 |40,139 |133,021
Eastbourne |166,062 |75,210 |241,272
Eltham |73,952 |30,853 |104,705
Epson |55,197 |25,109 |80,307
Fareham |199,443 |82,192 |281,635
Folkestone |116,633 |50,778 |167,412
Gravesend |112,102 |47,824 |159,926
Greenwich Park |518,737 |221,658 |740,394
Guildford |118,566 |55,356 |173,922
Hastings |216,838 |105,866 |322,704
Havant |213,702 |88,386 |302,088
Hither Green |124,471 |55,010 |179,481
Hounslow |379,484 |165,053 |544,537
Hove |165,047 |78,407 |243,453
Isle of Wight |219,260 |94,957 |314,217
Kennington Park |369,213 |153,717 |522,931
Kensington |194,750 |84,225 |278,974
Kingston |147,986 |66,848 |214,834
Lewes |104,012 |46,160 |150,172
Lewisham |562,602 |239,216 |801,818
Maidstone |153,068 |67,957 |221,025
Mitcham |124,714 |57,076 |181,790
New Forest |142,157 |60,615 |202,772
Newbury |79,425 |36,403 |115,828
Orpington |87,293 |39,371 |126,664
Oval |368,777 |164,364 |533,140
Peckham |329,774 |145,861 |475,635
Portsmouth North |174,625 |76,515 |251,140
Portsmouth South |159,300 |68,800 |228,101
Reading |373,843 |159,827 |533,670
Redhill |99,776 |45,275 |145,050
Rochester |115,513 |49,712 |165,225
Sittingbourne |169,896 |70,100 |239,996
Slough |218,278 |94,424 |312,701
Southampton |482,712 |201,592 |684,304
Southwark |449,003 |208,657 |657,660
Streatham |353,899 |150,008 |503,907
Surbiton |62,437 |27,105 |89,543
Sutton |76,670 |33,951 |110,621
Thames South |24,631 |9,558 |34,188
Thanet |251,531 |113,336 |364,866
Tunbridge Wells |113,626 |51,854 |165,480
Twickenham |76,998 |35,246 |112,244
Wandsworth |207,195 |90,505 |297,700
Westminster |157,312 |70,120 |227,432
Wimbledon |167,140 |71328 |238,469
Winchester |94,606 |40,696 |135,302
Woking |150,769 |65,440 |216,209
Woolwich |733,974 |310,327 |1,044,301
Worthing |152,338 |68,600 |220,938
|------- |------- |-------
Totals |15,361,432|6,734,045 |22,095,477
3. Midlands Region
Birmingham Bradford Street |320,370 |130,510 |450,881
Birmingham Edgbaston |598,925 |255,223 |854,147
Birmingham Erdington |558,105 |243,468 |801,573
Birmingham Handsworth |770,837 |319,141 |1,089,978
Birmingham Ladywood |460,311 |196,366 |656,677
Birmingham Northfield |522,226 |219,897 |742,124
Birmingham Perry Barr |386,241 |157,206 |543,447
Birmingham Ravenshurst |281,772 |130,204 |411,975
Birmingham South Yardley |526,576 |226,042 |752,619
Birmingham Sparkhill |217,807 |92,197 |310,004
Birmingham Washwood Heath |476,779 |200,111 |676,890
Boston |121,624 |53,006 |174,631
Burton on Trent |120,875 |53,787 |174,663
Cannock |206,560 |83,324 |289,883
Chesterfield |394,692 |168,124 |562,816
Corby |183,483 |77,647 |261,130
Coventry East |708,200 |288,114 |996,314
Coventry West |466,926 |189,889 |656,815
Derby Becket Street |223,321 |100,276 |323,597
Derby Heritage Gate |133,854 |58,280 |192,134
Derby London Road |322,844 |135,672 |458,517
Dudley North |454,371 |185,705 |640,076
Dudley South |206,145 |92,016 |298,161
Grantham |119,829 |49,610 |169,439
Hereford |205,712 |93,538 |299,249
Ilkeston |201,578 |86,709 |288,286
Kidderminster |242,695 |98,136 |340,831
Leamington |194,228 |86,954 |281,182
Leicester Burleys Way |235,126 |102,735 |337,860
Leicester Lower Hill Street |357,728 |152,658 |510,386
Leicester Norton Street |408,438 |177,152 |585,590
Leicester Yeoman Street |575,257 |249,696 |824,953
Lichfield |315,354 |128,305 |443,659
Lincoln Newland |317,210 |137,289 |454,499
Lincoln Orchard Street |367,347 |170,103 |537,451
Loughborough |173,927 |75,223 |249,150
Mansfield |368,727 |159,906 |528,634
Newcastle (Staffs) |241,422 |99,542 |340,964
Northampton |353,813 |155,376 |509,189
Nottingham Castle Gate |327,027 |139,345 |466,371
Nottingham David Lane |369,118 |157,536 |526,654
Nottingham Shakespeare Street |481,403 |204,264 |685,667
Nottingham Station Street |367,211 |160,323 |527,534
Nuneaton |272,889 |110,862 |383,751
Redditch |186,886 |77,378 |264,265
Rugby |114,732 |51,024 |165,756
Shrewsbury |295,080 |127,783 |422,863
Skegness |88,564 |39,180 |127,745
Smethwick |500,587 |207,507 |708,094
Stafford |128,752 |56,649 |185,401
Stoke North |404,010 |177,656 |581,666
Stoke South |237,625 |110,928 |348,553
Sutton-in-Ashfield |183,187 |80,047 |263,234
Telford |445,432 |191,335 |636,766
Walsall East |330,676 |134,490 |465,166
Walsall West |445,097 |198,232 |643,329
Wellingborough |298,713 |136,920 |435,633
West Bromwich |559,297 |239,122 |798,419
Wolverhampton North |713,287 |296,127 |1,009,414
Wolverhampton South |579,231 |249,684 |828,914
Worcester |278,947 |133,726 |412,674
Worksop |237,560 |99,684 |337,244
|----------|----------|----------
Totals |21,186,545|9,058,942 |30,245,487
4. North East Region
Ashington |221,427 |94,749 |316,175
Barnsley East |602,431 |251,189 |853,620
Barnsley West |355,031 |145,756 |500,787
Berwick-On-Tweed |26,112 |12,023 |38,134
Bishop Auckland |381,643 |158,242 |539,885
Blyth |217,724 |93,681 |311,404
Bradford East |442,986 |196,697 |639,683
Bradford South |397,200 |161,282 |558,482
Bradford West |443,796 |186,072 |629,867
Bridlington |109,409 |52,436 |161,845
Castleford |190,138 |77,631 |267,769
Chester-Le-Street |202,581 |85,079 |287,660
Darlington |449,667 |188,278 |637,944
Dewsbury |299,865 |127,316 |427,179
Doncaster East |352,879 |143,325 |496,204
Doncaster West |543,032 |231,410 |774,442
Durham |158,232 |66,319 |224,551
Eston |291,568 |113,030 |404,597
Gateshead |593,458 |241,873 |835,331
Goole |115,095 |52,322 |167,417
Grimsby |542,123 |219,244 |761,367
Halifax |449,551 |197,962 |647,512
Harrogate |145,803 |64,113 |209,916
Hartlepool |338,628 |134,655 |473,282
Hemsworth |153,033 |69,354 |222,387
Hexham |50,085 |21,885 |71,970
Houghton Le Spring |161,336 |66,348 |227,684
Huddersfield |358,945 |154,968 |513,913
Hull East |671,197 |295,477 |966,674
Hull West |558,973 |251,564 |810,536
Jarrow |325,384 |138,204 |463,588
Keighley |195,704 |84,032 |279,736
Leeds East |591,480 |246,151 |837,632
Leeds North |699,290 |299,660 |998,950
Leeds North West |362,307 |166,967 |529,274
Leeds South |243,725 |105,300 |349,024
Leeds West |326,381 |142,116 |468,498
Middlesbrough |896,332 |354,181 |1,250,513
Newcastle East |430,341 |174,752 |605,093
Newcastle St. James |502,248 |207,770 |710,018
Newcastle West |417,995 |170,806 |588,801
North Shields |336,436 |145,451 |481,887
Northallerton |84,243 |37,599 |121,841
Peterlee |202,186 |87,199 |289,385
Pontefract |191,449 |81,057 |272,507
Redcar |296,301 |138,058 |434,359
Rotherham North |167,787 |71,922 |239,709
Rotherham South |537,689 |230,351 |768,040
Scarborough |161,228 |67,263 |228,492
Scunthorpe |370,961 |153,256 |524,217
Seaham |77,923 |34,894 |112,817
Sheffield North East |974,273 |411,432 |1,385,705
Sheffield North West |723,208 |303,988 |1,027,196
Sheffield South East |474,642 |196,972 |671,614
Sheffield South West |624,974 |274,772 |899,745
Skipton |30,337 |13,861 |44,199
South Shields |433,545 |183,063 |616,607
Stanley |308,225 |126,013 |434,237
Stockton |634,110 |263,453 |897,562
Sunderland North |851,567 |338,682 |1,190,249
Sunderland South |533,100 |212,467 |745,567
Wakefield |324,752 |142,422 |467,174
Wallsend |273,606 |115,442 |389,047
Wath-On-Dearne |336,146 |134,286 |470,432
York |299,802 |133,022 |432,824
|----------|----------|----------
Totals |24,063,620|10,141,138|34,204,758
5. North West Region
Accrington |196,613 |88,540 |285,154
Ashton-Under-Lyne |262,459 |117,239 |379,698
Barrow in Furness |156,293 |73,195 |229,488
Birkenhead North |640,278 |265,117 |905,395
Birkenhead South |301,152 |124,202 |425,354
Blackburn |356,591 |152,858 |509,449
Bolton |598,568 |246,144 |844,712
Bootle |533,794 |209,972 |743,766
Burnley |386,276 |172,747 |559,023
Bury |347,978 |155,287 |503,265
Buxton |25,170 |11,528 |36,698
Carlisle |182,115 |82,342 |264,456
Chester |236,354 |98,035 |334,389
Crewe |240,214 |104,319 |344,533
Crosby |393,660 |162,090 |555,750
Ellesmere Port |225,953 |89,094 |315,047
Failsworth |415,759 |176,443 |592,202
Farnworth |214,098 |95,433 |309,531
Fylde North |297,865 |130,674 |428,539
Fylde South |144,366 |65,546 |209,912
Huyton |666,622 |264,259 |930,881
Hyde |333,371 |134,023 |467,394
Kendal |33,667 |14,892 |48,559
Kirkby |684,935 |273,433 |958,368
Lancaster |344,134 |139,283 |483,417
Leigh |267,583 |112,642 |380,225
Liverpool Belle Vale |384,710 |157,853 |542,563
Liverpool Breckfield |631,306 |253,475 |884,782
Liverpool City |396,197 |162,917 |559,113
Liverpool Edge Hill |668,835 |258,026 |926,861
Liverpool Garston |330,728 |131,583 |462,311
Liverpool Norris Green |300,273 |120,474 |420,746
Liverpool Toxteth |799,340 |331,820 |1,131,160
Liverpool West Derby |173,159 |72,764 |245,923
Macclesfield |88,927 |40,220 |129,147
Manchester Central |204,566 |89,425 |293,992
Manchester Cheetham |380,254 |163,217 |543,471
Manchester Chorlton |353,314 |172,218 |525,532
Manchester Longsight |450,612 |191,988 |642,600
Manchester Openshaw |331,198 |142,854 |474,052
Manchester Rusholme |559,432 |244,743 |804,175
Manchester Wythenshawe |456,196 |192,343 |648,539
Middleton |249,628 |103,342 |352,971
Northwich |240,913 |100,537 |341,450
Oldham |433,409 |191,246 |624,655
Penrith |25,264 |11,831 |37,095
Preston North |330,911 |126,254 |457,165
Preston South |235,863 |102,480 |338,343
Rochdale |333,564 |140,740 |474,304
Rossendale |119,022 |52,248 |171,270
Sale |317,676 |136,578 |454,254
Salford North |381,113 |167,969 |549,082
Salford South |251,327 |106,731 |358,058
Skelmersdale |384,801 |162,618 |547,419
Southport |120,735 |52,833 |173,568
St. Helens |574,468 |232,334 |806,802
Stockport North |336,623 |137,503 |474,126
Stockport South |322,694 |138,202 |460,896
Wallasey |418,170 |169,337 |587,507
Warrington |454,245 |186,157 |640,401
Whitehaven |109,546 |45,323 |154,869
Widnes |669,999 |278,390 |948,389
Wigan |540,889 |237,170 |778,059
Wilmslow |59,321 |27,908 |87,229
Workington |155,151 |70,633 |225,784
|----------|----------|----------
Totals |22,060,244|9,263,618 |31,323,862
6. Scotland Region
Aberdeen North |324,995 |136,664 |461,658
Aberdeen South |288,795 |125,366 |414,161
Airdrie |659,396 |269,305 |928,701
Arbroath |156,677 |71,030 |227,707
Ayr |743,508 |301,989 |1,045,498
Bathgate |524,997 |223,124 |748,121
Bellshill |489,243 |193,990 |683,233
Campbeltown |39,008 |16,540 |55,548
Clydebank |479,332 |193,619 |672,951
Coatbridge |475,741 |192,395 |668,136
Cowdenbeath |149,213 |69,269 |218,482
Cumbernauld |474,682 |211,784 |686,466
Dumbarton |461,624 |194,681 |656,305
Dumfries |224,927 |98,655 |323,582
Dundee East |452,227 |188,946 |641,172
Dundee West |372,589 |154,368 |526,958
Dunfermline |223,093 |96,750 |319,843
East Kilbride |277,067 |121,959 |399,026
Edinburgh City |518,955 |222,994 |741,949
Edinburgh East |471,904 |202,701 |674,604
Edinburgh North |411,233 |167,807 |579,039
Edinburgh South |432,974 |179,642 |612,616
Edinburgh West |442,024 |182,844 |624,869
Elgin |164,853 |69,520 |234,373
Falkirk |616,125 |252,999 |869,124
Fort William |75,106 |33,202 |108,308
Galashiels |158,789 |75,861 |234,600
Glasgow Anniesland |684,448 |284,249 |968,698
Glasgow Bridgeton |456,354 |203,051 |659,405
Glasgow City |565,884 |250,765 |816,650
Glasgow Craigton |844,419 |347,990 |1,192,409
Glasgow Cranstonhill |98,759 |37,207 |135,965
Glasgow Laurieston |847,613 |357,390 |1,205,003
Glasgow Maryhill |713,217 |299,598 |1,012,815
Glasgow Parkhead |892,547 |368,309 |1,260,856
Glasgow Partick |398,764 |166,606 |565,371
Glasgow Provan |1,035,477 |416,294 |1,451,772
Glasgow Rutherglen |1,079,128 |429,846 |1,508,974
Glasgow South Side |865,646 |355,586 |1,221,231
Glasgow Springburn |927,660 |380,519 |1,308,179
Greenock |654,289 |265,969 |920,258
Hamilton |1,063,192 |447,633 |1,510,824
Inverness |326,136 |149,629 |475,765
Irvine |746,994 |321,952 |1,068,946
Johnstone |331,768 |136,878 |468,646
Kilmarnock |403,821 |166,720 |570,541
Kirkcaldy |424,204 |172,952 |597,156
Lerwick |22,216 |9,455 |31,671
Leven |156,076 |63,128 |219,203
Motherwell |653,179 |263,883 |917,062
Oban |49,263 |21,678 |70,941
Paisley |823,936 |325,259 |1,149,195
Perth |203,370 |84,464 |287,833
Peterhead |136,006 |60,290 |196,296
Port Glasgow |406,643 |165,995 |572,637
Stirling |399,921 |160,146 |560,067
Stornoway |72,129 |32,710 |104,840
Stranraer |90,519 |39,199 |129,718
Wick |91,977 |41,362 |133,339
|----------|----------|----------
Totals |26,574,580|11,074,717|37,649,297
7. Wales and South West Region
Aberdare |281,323 |123,789 |405,112
Abertillery |119,094 |49,186 |168,280
Aberystwyth |94,095 |41,905 |135,999
Ammanford (Group) |81,360 |38,263 |119,623
Anglesey |183,796 |76,180 |259,976
Bargeoed |228,385 |92,738 |321,123
Barnstaple |169,204 |78,802 |248,006
Barry |195,243 |80,865 |276,108
Bath |190,540 |83,703 |274,243
Blackwood |141,463 |57,868 |199,331
Bournemouth |277,466 |120,995 |398,461
Bridgend |273,323 |118,509 |391,833
Bridgwater |138,064 |54,339 |192,403
Bristol Central |264,123 |116,999 |381,122
Bristol East |298,880 |132,396 |431,276
Bristol Horfield |166,519 |70,157 |236,676
Bristol South |390,871 |161,817 |552,689
Bristol West |122,689 |53,334 |176,023
Caernarfon |132,703 |53,382 |186,085
Caerphilly |329,926 |139,599 |469,526
Cardiff Central |299,032 |125,895 |424,927
Cardiff East |526,381 |213,772 |740,153
Cardiff West |382,057 |164,352 |546,410
Carmarthen |79,550 |32,716 |112,266
Cheltenham |191,199 |81,329 |272,528
Chippenham |75,112 |35,553 |110,664
Colwyn Bay |172,355 |73,246 |245,601
Cwmbran (Group) |333,846 |140,110 |473,958
Deeside |140,614 |61,423 |202,037
Devonport |345,648 |149,804 |495,452
Ebbw Vale (Group) |209,720 |84,673 |294,394
Exeter |425,041 |188,942 |613,983
Gloucester |364,755 |158,551 |523,306
Haverfordwest |184,884 |73,398 |258,282
Launceston |86,634 |37,376 |124,010
Llanelli |238,119 |95,571 |335,690
Merthyr Tydfil |267,040 |105,445 |372,485
Morriston |307,767 |135,427 |443,194
Neath |161,257 |67,077 |228,333
Newport (Gwent) |662,077 |278,899 |940,975
Newtown (Group) |96,349 |42,481 |138,829
Pembroke Dock |119,492 |50,949 |170,441
Penzance |158,004 |63,956 |221,959
Plymouth |401,787 |174,891 |576,678
Pontypridd |228,791 |103,227 |332,018
Poole |223,173 |97,670 |320,843
Port Talbot |177,096 |74,259 |251,355
Porth |133,229 |54,975 |188,204
Porthmadog-Dolgellau |78,123 |32,779 |110,903
Rhondda West |229,361 |92,610 |321,970
Rhyl |262,960 |115,581 |378,541
Salisbury |117,921 |51,043 |168,964
St. Austell |196,298 |82,422 |278,720
Stroud |113,271 |48,652 |161,923
Swansea |587,165 |268,015 |855,181
Swindon |240,052 |102,929 |342,981
Taunton |186,496 |83,497 |269,993
Torbay |388,969 |171,024 |559,993
Trowbridge |87,608 |39,339 |126,946
Truro |235,100 |102,242 |337,341
Weston-Super-Mare |138,411 |59,489 |197,901
Weymouth |128,919 |57,336 |186,255
Wrexham (Group) |349,058 |148,016 |497,074
Yeovil |101,032 |48,067 |149,099
|----------|----------|----------
Totals |14,510,822|6,215,834 |20,726,656
Note: The totals may not sum due to rounding.
Centenarians
6. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) males and (b) females according to national insurance records have become centenarians in each of the past five years, and in the same period between 1965 and 1969 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : I regret that the precise information requested is not available, but over the past five years there has been a significant increase in the number of people aged 100. The number of women has increased from 1,150 to 1,550 and the number of men has more than doubled from 100 to 210. Today is the 100th birthday of four people and the 106th birthday of another, and one person, Brigadier Mrs. Mary Fewster of the Salvation Army, is celebrating her 111th birthday today. I offer them all my warmest congratulations and good wishes and I shall, with permission, publish a full breakdown of the figures in the Official Report.
Mr. Greenway : I echo those congratulations. Are not these figures yet another sign of the success of the Government's policies, and a clear confirmation of which is the stronger sex? What does the trend of those figures imply for male members of the Cabinet who are hoping to succeed?
Mr. Scott : I shall steer clear of the latter point. Yes, I am encouraged by the fact that men are improving their achievement of this target at a more rapid rate than women. I understand that my hon. Friend runs a club in his constitutency for centenarians. I hope that one day he may qualify for membership.
Mr. Eastham : Does not this question reinforce the fact that as more people are living longer, there is a greater strain on the NHS? Does not the great number of old people who have been added to the figures justify the Labour party's case for spending more on the NHS?
Mr. Scott : The hon. Gentleman makes a serious point. The shift in the demographic pattern in our society will mean more old people, and more old frail people. That has
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implications for the Health Service, the social security system and other matters. All these are being considered well in advance by the Government.Mr. Holt : In his list, my hon. Friend omitted Britain's oldest person, who lives in my constituency. The House will be pleased to know that she is still living on her own, and she answered the phone this morning when we rang to find out how she was. She is now well on her way to her 112th birthday.
Mr. Scott : I add my congratulations to those of my hon. Friend. Following is the information :
The number of people who became centenarians in each of the last five years is not available. The number of men and women aged 100 years as at 31 March in each of the last five years is as follows :
|1984 |1985 |1986 |<1>1987|1988
--------------------------------------------------------
Males |100 |170 |170 |200 |210
Females |1,150 |1,250 |1,230 |1,420 |1,550
Corresponding figures for 1965 to 1969 are not
available as records did not begin until 1983.
<1> 30 September 1987
Social Security Payments
7. Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to introduce amendments into the regulations governing social security payments in order to restore transitional protection to those who now lose it due to such changes in their circumstances as a stay in hospital.
Mr. Scott : No, Sir. I would point out to the hon. Member that the new income support rules for single people who go into hospital are far more generous than the old. Income support for these people now remains unchanged for the first six weeks after admission, by which time about 94 per cent. of people are discharged from hospital. Supplementary benefit used to be reduced from the first week of admission.
Mr. Michael : Does not the Minister's reply amount to a confession that the Government's promise of transitional protection was not worth the paper on which it was written? Does the Minister realise that many people are losing out through having to go into hospital and through many other changes in their lives that are irrelevant to their circumstances? What does he have to say to the lady who discovered that her husband's death triggered a cut in the payments that were meant to assist with her own health? Will he confess that the Government have tried to con the poor?
Mr. Scott : I do not believe that the hon. Gentleman listened to my main answer. Perhaps he was too busy preparing his supplementary question when I was delivering it. Transitional protection will cost about £200 million in its first year. It has been of significant help to many people.
Mr. Robin Cook : Is the Minister aware that the appalling examples of those who have lost transitional protection over the past few months would all have been included in the figure which he used repeatedly last April? He told us then that 88 per cent. would be no worse off at the point of change. Does not that which has happened
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since then expose how bogus that figure always was? Will the hon. Gentleman turn his mind to the parallel provision for housing benefit, which effectively ceases after six weeks in hospital? There are many frail and elderly patients who find after a spell in hospital that they have arrears amounting to hundreds of pounds? That cannot be justified, and I am even prepared to believe that it cannot have been intended. Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to change this vindictive rule before it causes any more distress?Mr. Scott : I do not agree for one moment with the hon. Gentleman's description of the system. The essence of transitional protection is that it is eroded after time. It is right that we introduced the protection in April 1988 to ensure that no one faced a cliff-edge drop in cash terms. As I said earlier, over 94 per cent. of patients are discharged from hospital within six weeks. We are monitoring the effect on the balance.
Mr. Kennedy : Will the Minister note that many come off transitional protection for short-term employment reasons? My constituency is an example of an area where much of the employment is seasonal and short-term by definition, and those who are engaged in it lose transitional protection. I cannot believe that that was intended as in many instances the effect of the loss of transitional protection is severe. I ask the Minister to review the scheme because the issue goes much wider than the strict definition of the question. There are many who are losing a great deal.
Mr. Scott : We have made concessions for some who are in vulnerable groups. We are monitoring the effect of the present scheme.
Income Support
8. Mr. Wood : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has that the new income support scheme is easier to operate than supplementary benefit.
Mr. Moore : Claims for income support are being processed more quickly and accurately than claims for supplementary benefit. Error rates are down from 12 per cent. to 8 per cent. and will fall further. Claims are being processed in five days as opposed to as many as 11, and we shall improve further. People find the scheme easier to understand and the rate of successful claims has increased from 74 per cent. to 80 per cent.
Mr. Wood : I thank my right hon. Friend for those encouraging remarks, which confirm the impression which I have gained from my local office. What is the average clearance rate under the new scheme compared with that under the old? I invite my right hon. Friend to say more about whether applicants are finding it an easier scheme to use than the previous one.
Mr. Moore : There has been a reduction from the worst rate of about 11 days, which we saw in the latter part of 1987. The average number of days last year was seven, and we are now down to five. Our customers are finding the scheme a great deal easier to use, and the staff are finding it enormously simpler. We should all be pleased to know that as a result the success rate has increased.
Mr. Wareing : How is the new system helping people like Mr. Wyatt, a constituent of mine, who was asked at
Column 636
the Department of Employment office how much he expected to receive if he was lucky enough to get a job? When Mr. Wyatt answered £120 a week, my 58-year-old constituent found that his income support was stopped. It was resumed only a few weeks later and the payments were reduced by £6 per week. What is the right hon. Gentleman going to do about the way in which people like my constituent are discriminated against?Mr. Moore : I have learnt how important and wise it is to get all the details about individual cases before trying to comment on any particular one. The new income support, in comparison with the old supplementary benefit, has not only made the system simpler, but has improved turnround and the way in which people get their claims settled. I should have thought that all hon. Members would regard that as important, because nearly 4.5 million people are on our live income support load. The new system has reduced the error rate and improved the success rate. I should have thought that all hon. Members would welcome that.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : Does the Minister accept that one of the problems with the old system continues with the present system? There is a tendency among some officers to assure constituents, including some of mine, that a giro is in the post when they inquire about benefit. However, the inquirer finds, after several days' wait and many complaints to the Post Office, that the giro is not in the post. Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that officers tell people that a giro is in the post only when they have a document before them which makes it clear that the giro is in the post? That would stop them misleading people.
Mr. Moore : I will look at the point that the hon. Gentleman has made because I have experience of similar cases in my constituency which is an urban area. Overall, the system is working infinitely better than the old, highly complex and very difficult supplementary benefit system.
Fraud
9. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures are being taken to cut down on social security fraud.
Mr. Moore : Since this Government took office, we have nearly doubled the number of staff on anit-fraud work to over 3,300. Cheats are nothing more than spongers on the rest of us and my Department has stepped up its drive against claimants who cheat. Resources are being used more efficiently. Investigations into high-risk areas are producing good results. More people are being found out. As a result, this year we shall produce the best savings ever, around £250 million--up from £100 million five years ago, but still only one eighth of what the Inland Revenue recovered last year through its compliance work.
Mrs. Gorman : Will my right hon. Friend accept congratulations on that not just from Conservative Members, but from people who genuinely claim social security and those on modest incomes who pay taxes towards the people who are cheating the system? Will he assure the House that, when people are found to be defrauding the system, they will be prosecuted and that the widest possible publicity is given to that to deter others from taking that line?
Column 637
Mr. Moore : Of course I accept entirely what my hon. Friend says. No hon. Member can endorse cheating. However, I should stress that this Government are pursuing this problem sensibly, unlike the Labour Government who believed in a high prosecution policy, did not collect figures for fraud and saw no reason to account for or demonstrate value for money. Last year, 7,231 people were prosecuted whereas during the last full year of the Labour Government's term of office, 21,913 people were prosecuted. That is a sign of the less-than-humane pursuit of a very serious problem.
Mr. Redmond : Does the Minister agree that if claimants at the Department of Social Security are not informed of their due rights, that can also be classed as fraud? Will he restate to DSS officers throughout the country that they are there to help, advise and guide people who make rightful claims and that the duty rests with the DHS to assist those people or they will lose benefit, which would be fraud by the state?
Mr. Moore : There is a duty on the individual and I also fully accept that there is a duty on my offices and staff. In the "Business of Service" report which I am seeking to implement, I strongly endorse not necessarily the hon. Gentleman's words, but ways in which I encourage my staff to treat and serve their customers so that their entitlement to benefit is fully and well understood.
Mr. David Nicholson : While the House welcomes my right hon. Friend's administrative measures to reduce fraud, is he aware that there is a widespread welcome in the country for the legislative measures he is taking--in particular, the Social Security Bill, which is proceeding upstairs? It is unacceptable that in large areas of the country where there is work, people are able successively to refuse jobs and continue living on benefit.
Mr. Moore : My hon. Friend is entirely right. I read with continued interest, and sometimes with amazement, the Hansard reports of the proceedings of my right hon. and hon. Friends and of the Opposition in the Committee on the Social Security Bill and I cannot begin to understand how an Opposition can be so far removed from the basic attitudes, beliefs and views held by the majority of our people--with whom my hon. Friend is so closely connected.
Widows' Pensions
10. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to amend the relevant legislation in order to restore the age limit for widows' pensions to 40 years.
Mr. Banks : It did not take the Minister very long to come up with that reply, and I am very disappointed with it. Is he aware that about 2,000 women were widowed between September 1987 and April 1988, and therefore fell foul, retroactively, of the changes made in the social security provisions? All those widows will lose about £32,000 each. When the Chancellor of the Exchequer is going around bragging, at every dinner to which he can get an invitation, that the country's coffers are overflowing, what justification is there for him to deprive the country's bereaved of what is justifiably theirs? If the Minister will
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not reconsider his terse reply, will he at least drop the mean-spirited approach that the Government adopt towards widows whose cases have been upheld by the appeal tribunal? The Government are trying to reverse such decisions? That is mean-spirited, and the Minister should have a heart.Mr. Scott An important case is shortly to go before the social security commissioner and it would be unwise of me to comment on it. The whole thrust of the policy is to focus on older widows and widows with children. About 55,000 of them benefited as a result of our reforming the system.
Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman : Does my hon. Friend accept that it does no service to younger widows to exempt them from the necessity of earning a living? Nothing can be better for their morale than to get out and come to grips with life again.
Mr. Scott : I very much agree with my hon. Friend's point that widows should be encouraged back into employment. Also, I am advised that about 90 per cent. of widows aged between 40 and 44 remarry.
Mrs. Fyfe : Does the Minister accept that it may be difficult for many widows to follow the advice of the hon. Member for Lancaster (Dame E. Kellett-Bowman) if they live in constituencies such as Glasgow, Maryhill where the official unemployment rate is 22 per cent.? Furthermore, is it not insulting to tell widows that their only hope, if they cannot find work, is that they had better find themselves husbands? How would the Minister like to be told, in similar circumstances, that he had better find himself a wife?
Mr. Scott : I am saying that we are helping older widows and widows with dependent children. It is right to give them our highest priority. It is worth reminding the House yet again that about 55,000 widows benefited as a result of our reforms.
Mr. McCrindle : Was not the change made on the supposition that it should be easier for younger widows to obtain employment? That must still apply. However, will my hon. Friend note that a number of employers continue discriminating against women because they are--to use their word, not mine--"older"? Will my hon. Friend take the initiative in persuading employers that, particularly as the number of teenagers coming on to the labour market falls, older women represent a particularly important source of future employees, and that age discrimination is not acceptable?
Mr. Scott : I agree with my hon. Friend. Any employer taking such an attitude is being very short-sighted. As we get into an increasingly tight employment situation, with a reduction in the number of young people coming on to the labour market, wise employers will be looking throughout the age range for skills and experience.
Mr. Flynn : Will the Minister reconsider his appalling answer in the light of the experience of Mrs. Valerie Jones of Cwmlas Llanbradach? Her husband died tragically of cancer a year ago, 35 days before her 45th birthday and two months before this law came into effect. Her appeal was upheld by the social security tribunal, and the Government are appealing against that decision.
The DSS and the Government believe that Mrs. Jones should go out to work. Tragically, she herself is now
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