BOLTON MP Brian Iddon has raised the fears of hundreds of mentally ill people in the town over the Government's review of benefits for the disabled and handicapped. Last night he tackled Social Security secretary, Harriet Harman on the issue and presented a petition signed by 342 Bolton residents who had either suffered long-term mental illness or were friends or relatives of victims. Bolton South East MP, Dr Iddon, is concerned that major problems of depression and potential suicide could result when the mentally ill are informed that their welfare payments are being reviewed under the controversial Benefits Integrity Project.

The petition to the Commons, presented by Dr Iddon, sought to protect the welfare benefits of the long-termed mentally ill.

It "seeks clarification" from Government as to the plans that are being proposed and asked the Government to recognise the levels of concern and anxiety that the proposals have caused to people.

The petition also "urges" the Secretary of State for Social Security to look for alternative ways of addressing the costs of the Welfare State in preference to victimising the most vulnerable members of our society.

Earlier Dr Iddon told Mrs Harman: "I'm sure you realise that those who are mentally ill and who have the threat of losing benefits hanging over them experience special problems.

"Are any special instructions given to the Benefit Integrity Project on the re-assessment of people with these special difficulties?"

Mrs Harman said that the Government had been working with mental health charity Mind to improve the initial letter about the review to the mentally ill and said: "There are clearly difficulties regarding people suffering mental ill health and we want to make sure we work fairly by them."

She said that the original letter used went too far in trying to avoid alarming recipients lulling some into a false sense of security which resulted in them not giving the right information.

Thanking Mind for its, help she added: "A balance must be struck between letting people know what the exercise is about and not unduly scaring them."

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