HC Deb 06 June 1978 vol 951 cc19-20
10. Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons received help in 1977 from the Manpower Services Commission in order to get to work; and what was the average amount of help given.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in 1977 210 applications were approved for help to be given with the cost of travel to work, at an average weekly amount of £10.20.

Mr. Price

Is the Minister aware that, in the conditions of high unemployment that we have been discussing, the disabled worker is particularly disadvantaged? Is he aware that one of his biggest problems is that of getting to work and that the mobility allowance, welcome though it is, is not always adequate? Will he talk to the Manpower Services Commission and try to make better use of this facility, because the figures that he has given are frighteningly small?

Mr. Grant

I have a great deal of sympathy with the hon. Member's point. There will be a revised fares-to-work scheme which will be introduced on 5th July to coincide with the next uprating in the mobility allowance. This will mean roughly a 75 per cent. contribution towards the cost of taxi travel to work, and it will not be means-tested like the present scheme. The new scheme will be much more flexible in its application, many more people will benefit and it will be available to people in both open and sheltered employment. We intend that the spending on the scheme will be trebled between 1977–78 and 1978–79.