Pressure is growing on the British Government to guarantee that sick and disabled people will not be worse off after a welfare review.

An all-party group of MPs met the Social Security Secretary, Harriet Harman, to press their case. They warned that any cuts in disability benefits would be resisted.

Lord Ashley explains his fears for disability benefits to BBC's PM programme. (2'05")

The former Labour Minister, Lord Ashley, warned of a "long, bitter and angry battle" if the Government seeks cuts in disability benefit.

Union leaders have also been in Downing Street pushing the case that the disabled should not suffer benefits cuts.

The cost of benefits for the sick and disabled was £24bn last year with 1.8m people receiving Incapacity Benefit, another 1.8m on Disability Living Allowance and 1.3m getting Attendance Allowance.

Harman: Charged with pushing through welfare reforms.

Harriet Harman repeated assurances made by the Prime Minister that the disabled had nothing to fear from changes to the welfare system.

She said: "Although the overall benefit bill will fall, when we sort out fraud and help people who can into work, individual benefit levels for those who are ill or disabled certainly have nothing to fear from a Labour Government."

Harriet Harman responds to Lord Ashley's worries on the BBC's PM programme. (2'26")

The Trades Union Congress deputation met Mr Blair for more than an hour pressing their case.

The organisation's General Secretary, John Monks, said: "We want to see a better welfare state, but we don't want to see the most vulnerable people left out.

"We want to ensure that the people who really need disability benefit continue to receive at least the current level.

"We are very keen to see the disabled get a decent deal from the welfare state."

Mr Monks added that he had emphasised to the Prime Minister that the TUC was opposed to any cuts in disability benefit.

Despite the growing pressure, the Government has insisted it will press ahead with reforming the welfare state.

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©