To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department has any plans to recompense for the additional costs of blindness those claimants who are registered blind aged over 80 years and whose income support currently makes no provision in relation to their additional problems.

People who are registered blind and aged 60 years or more automatically qualify for the higher pensioner premium, which provides an extra £17.05 a week for single people and £24.25 a week for couples on top of their personal allowances. In addition, blind people can qualify for the severe disability premium, worth £28.20 a week, if they receive attendance allowance, nobody else lives with them and no one gets invalid care allowance in respect of their care. There are no plans to change these arrangements.