Disabled Persons (Benefits)

Mr. Ashley
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to alleviate the effects on disabled people of the abolition of the electricity discount scheme.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin
There was no special provision for the disabled in the previous Administration's electricity discount scheme. Benefits for disabled people have just been increased and so have the supplementary benefit heating additions. The criteria for the award of these additions take particular account of the state of health of beneficiaries.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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|(a) Posts not occupied by a permanent holder* which had at one time been advertised             |…|
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|(b) Posts in category (a) which had been vacant for one year or more                            |…|
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|(c) Posts not occupied by a permanent holder which had been advertised during the previous year |…|
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|(d) Posts in category (c) which had been vacant for one year or more                            |…|
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