23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about spending on disabled people since 1979.
33.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about spending on disabled people since 1979.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the increase in spending by the Government in support of disabled people since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
I refer my hon. Friends to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir David Price) earlier today.
24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the numbers of people who will benefit from the measures outlined in "The Way Ahead".
29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the numbers of people who will benefit from the measures outlined in "The Way Ahead".
32.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the numbers of people who will benefit from the measures outlined in "The Way Ahead".
I refer my hon. Friends to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) earlier today.
34.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with disability organisations on his proposals outlined in "The Way Ahead-Benefits for Disabled People".
We regularly meet the disability organisations to discuss a wide range of issues. I met the Disability Benefits Consortium—an umbrella group representing over 250 disability organisations—on 5 April in the second of a series of meetings to discuss their views on "The Way Ahead". On 1 August we issued a consultation document, "Disability Allowance: Assessment and Adjudication" building on the proposals set out in "The Way Ahead" and inviting comments. Copies of the paper have been sent to over 125 disability organisations and a number of these have sent constructive and interesting replies. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library.