HC Deb 11 July 1978 vol 953 cc1225-7
2. Mr. Newton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to extend the coverage of the mobility allowance.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Alfred Morris)

In reviewing their public expenditure programme, the Government keep constantly in mind all claims for extending the scope of this important new allowance. As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, every claim for improvement in the scheme must be weighed both against other proposals for adding to the Government's present level of help for disabled people and all other proposals for increases in public expenditure.

Mr. Newton

Does the Minister recall that less than a year ago he was writing that it would be neither consistent nor fair to let people keep the trike beyond the age limit set for the mobility allowance? Now that he has changed his mind on the trike, surely there is an unanswerable case for him to change his mind on the mobility allowance as well and let people keep it beyond retirement age.

Mr. Morris

Right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House have welcomed my recent decision about invalid tricycles. We are very mindful of the strong pressures to continue the mobility allowance beyond retirement age. The resurce implications of such a move are very serious. We shall build on what we have achieved so far, as soon as we can. The hon. Member should bear in mind that we are in process of quintupling public expenditure on outdoor mobility for the disabled.

Mr. Carter-Jones

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his tremendous efforts to improve mobility, and in view of the hon. Gentleman's observations on aid for the elderly will my hon. Friend do two things? Will he persuade local authorities to improve their schemes of free travel for the elderly? Will he do his best to improve access to buses and trains, which sometimes causes immense problems in mobility?

Mr. Morris

I am very active in reminding public transport operators of the importance of providing access for disabled people. I am sure that local author- ities will note with care my hon. Friend's first point. They have powers under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act to assist disabled people in getting to and from facilities provided outside the home. Both points are very important, and I am certain that those who can help have noted that carefully.

Mr. Haselhurst

Not all the points raised about the mobility allowance are meant to decry the benefit of what has already been achieved. However, will the hon. Gentleman consider the case of people who are able to walk but who are not necessarily mobile and who would benefit very greatly from some small help they might get which fell short of the present level of mobility allowance? That would enable these people to be independent, which is what they are striving most to be.

Mr. Morris

This is a very important point. It shows that there is pressure from more than one direction for increassing public expenditure in this area. Blind people argue very strongly that they should receive outdoor mobility help under this scheme. People suffering from epilepsy and agoraphobia feel strongly that they should receive outdoor mobility y help. There is much more to be done in this area. We shall move forward as quickly as resources will allow. I hope, however, that no one will underestimate what has been achieved in very difficult circumstances.

Miss Maynard

Will my hon. Friend consider extending the coverage of the mobility allowance to blind people who, although able to walk, incur many expenses that sighted people do not? They often have to pay for home decorating, and often they have to have taxis when other people could use public transport. Frequently they have to pay for a gardener. I think that the mobility allowance should be extended to that.

Mr. Morris

I shall keep very much in mind what my hon. Friend said. I hope shortly to be greeting the national organisations which represent blind people. I have no doubt that they will be echoing the point that my hon. Friend has made. We shall improve the present scheme as soon as resources allow.