Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to increase the Access to Work budget upon the closure of the Independent Living Fund in June 2015.

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) provides direct cash payments to enable severely disabled people to purchase personal care or help with domestic duties from a care agency or a privately employed personal assistant. Following closure of the Fund in June 2015 funding and responsibility for former ILF users will transfer to local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales.

Access to Work provides support for disabled people in work or engaged in a work centred activity, it has limited overlap with the Independent Living Fund and no discernible budget impacts from this change.