§ 4. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will seek powers to extend the scope of attendance allowances so as to cover cases of disabled children born with one limb only.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Alfred Morris)The review of social security provisions for the chronically sick and disabled, which we are carrying out under Section 36 of the Social Security Act 1973, will have within its scope the problems of those who do not qualify for the present attendance allowance at either the higher or the lower rate.
This important matter is being regarded with due urgency, as my hon. and learned Friend will have seen from my right hon. Friend's speech during the debate on the Address on 15th March.—[Vol. 870, c. 523–33.]
§ Mr. JannerWhile welcoming my hon. Friend's statement, may I ask whether he agrees that the families of seriously disabled children—such as the Martins of Leicester—deserve high priority in the Government's programme? Can he assure the House that the attendance allowance procedures will be reviewed as soon as possible?
§ Mr. MorrisThere is little that I can add at this stage to my earlier reply. The National Insurance Commissioners have a further application before them in the case of Jimmy Martin for leave to appeal on a question of law, and it would not 254 be possible or proper for me to comment in detail at this stage. Our commitment to look at the whole question of disability income is a firm one in keeping with the statutory requirement.
§ Dr. WinstanleyWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind in addition the plight of the seriously disabled with terminal conditions whose disability will last for the rest of their lives but who nevertheless cannot qualify for allowance until the disability has existed for six months? Some of them die before they qualify for the allowance. Will the hon. Gentleman look at that in addition?
§ Mr. MorrisYes, Sir.