§ 16. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have applied for attendance allowance in Scotland up to the latest date; how many have been successful; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanAbout 14,100 claims for attendance allowance had been dealt with up to 6th October, the latest date for which figures are available. Of these, 7,900 had been successful either at once, or following an application for review.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the hon. Gentleman aware, from the number of cases which have been sent to him by other right hon. Gentlemen and myself, that many people are disillusioned with this legislation? Will he accept that people are calling this the graded superannuation pension fiddle of 1971? When will he introduce the legislation that is so much required to deal with this serious problem?
§ Mr. DeanThere are certainly some heartbreak cases not included under the first phase of the operation. The hon. Gentleman will recognise that to make 80,000 payments in a short time has been a major and creditable success. We are anxious to extend this. The extension is now beginning, and we hope that this will 223 cover an additional 250,000 people in the whole of Great Britain during the next two years.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisIn view of all that was said from this side of the House in the debate on 29th November, is the hon. Gentleman now prepared to advance the operative date of the extended allowance for all severely disabled children?
§ Mr. DeanWe have already started the second phase which includes the working age group. Children are the next group, and my right hon. Friend has said on a number of occasions that we wish to introduce this as soon as human resources make it possible.