asked the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will list the financial allowances made to the blind in the other countries of the EEC, country by country.
The social security cash benefits to which blind persons may become entitled as a result of their disability are listed under the headings sickness benefit, invalidity benefit and employment injuries benefit in the Department's comparative social security tables for member States of the European Communities, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. None of the benefits concerned is provided specifically in respect of blindness.
As regards social assistance, I understand that blind persons may be eligible for the following:
- Belgium—Allowances for the handicapped.
- Denmark—Social assistance allowances.
- France—Allowances for the handicapped.
- Germany—Blind assistance.
- Ireland—Blind person's pension.
- Italy—Blind pension.
- Luxembourg—Special allowance for the blind.
- Netherlands—Social assistance allowances.
It is not possible to quantify these benefits because, since they are in every case means-tested, they become payable at rates which vary according to the resources available to the claimant.