Richard Bruton
Question:49 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has satisfied himself with the progress being made towards the implementation of the Social Welfare Commission recommendations.
Written Answers. - Commission's Recommendations.
There were four main recommendations in the report of the Commission on Social Welfare. These were: improved child income support, a broadening of the social insurance base, improvement in the delivery of service and improvement in basic payments. Considerable progress has been made in all four areas since the commission reported in 1986.
In the area of child income support, the number of child dependant rates has been streamlined from 36 in 1987 to three at present. The minimum child dependant allowance will be £12.80 with effect from next July, as compared with £6 in 1987. This year's budget provided for a substantial increase in child benefit payments to £20 for the first three children and £23 for the fourth and each subsequent child. Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government is committed to increasing child benefit still further over time, following integration of the tax and social welfare systems. A new grant of £200 for mothers on the birth of twins will also be introduced in July. In addition, the family income supplement will be improved, so that most families on FIS will be £12 per week better off from July.
The Commission on Social Welfare also recommended a broadening of the social insurance base. With effect from April 1988, I extended social insurance cover for pensions to the self-employed, including farmers. In 1991, I extended full social insurance cover to part-time workers earning £25 or more per week. This year these part-time workers are becoming eligible for unemployment benefit, disability benefit and maternity benefit for the first time, representing a substantial improvement in their employment conditions.
The major and ongoing improvements which I have made in the quality, efficiency and delivery of social welfare services are in line with recommendations made by the commission in this area. I have set up eight regional management centres throughout the country and local offices are being converted into one stop shops for all social welfare services in these areas. This amounts to a major and fundamental reorganisation in the way these services are administered and delivered and is resulting in a more local customer-oriented service.
In recent years, social welfare payments have more than kept pace with inflation. All lòng term social welfare rates now exceed the Commission on Social Welfare's priority rate which is £58.20 in 1993 terms. The new weekly rate for long term payments will be at least £59.20 with effect from July. The carer's allowance will also increase to the long term rate from July. Short-term payments will be increased to a new personal weekly rate of £55.60.
The exceptionally difficult budgetary circumstances earlier this year did not allow the Government to achieve in full the priority rates proposed by the commission. This will be achieved in the context of further growth in the economy. However, the Government is committed, under the Programme for a Partnership Government, to at least maintain the real value of social welfare payments and to protect the incomes of pensioners. I will continue to keep payment levels under review and to implement the commission's recommendations in this area as resources permit.