HC Deb 29 July 1980 vol 989 cc1268-70
4. Mr. Colin Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the criteria for qualification for mobility allowance.

The Minister for Social Security (Mr. Reg Prentice)

Mobility allowance was designed for people, primarily of working age who are unable or virtually unable to walk. I believe that existing criteria broadly meet that objective. There are a number of claims for further relaxations, but the economy does not permit any extension of scope at present.

Mr. Shepherd

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the totally blind satisfy one of the other major underlying principles of mobility allowance, in that they cannot drive? Will he give this matter some thought so that when things improve, as they will, some action can be taken? Will he consider the possibility of a modified mobility allowance scheme to take the needs of the blind into account?

Mr. Prentice

The present definition relates to people unable to walk or virtually unable to walk, and it does not extend to particular kinds of disability. I have a great deal of sympathy with the idea of extending it to blind people, but I am under equal pressure on behalf of epileptics and people suffering from agoraphobia and other disabilities. I am afraid that in the foreseeable future there is no possibility of an extension.

Mr. Wigley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the feeling that the regulations have been tightened in recent months so that many people who two or three years ago might have received mobility allowance do not now do so? Can he give an absolute assurance that there has been no tightening of the categories of people who can get mobility allowance?

Mr. Prentice

There has been absolutely no general decision to tighten the rules for mobility allowance. The decisions in each case are made by the adjudicating authorities, but there has been no guidance to them to narrow the definitions.

Mr. Tom Benyon

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the mobility allowance and other payments for the disabled are made piecemeal? Will she undertake as soon as possible to set up a review of the needs of the disabled, which could be put into action when the economy is in rather better shape?

Mr. Prentice

We have taken the view that we would rather not go into the general question of the disablement allowance at this stage, because it would simply raise expectations which could not be fulfilled. As to the mobility allowance itself, the House will be aware that when we came into office it was £10 a week and that from November it will be £14 . 50 a week—an increase of 45 per cent. That shows our particular concern with the needs of this group.

Mr. Ennals

Having complained publicly before the Select Committee that there had been too much expenditure on social security, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that this was one of the most important, humane measures carried out by the previous Government? Does he also accept that the standards of judgment across the country can vary enormously? That applies to my constituency where, first the mobility allowance was rejected and secondly, it was granted until the year 2043.

Mr. Prentice

I think that I have already answered the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question. As to the second part, we regard this as an important allowance, which is why we have increased it more than other benefits, and why we phased in the 60 to 65-year-old age group more quickly than the previous Government had planned to do.

Mr. Speaker

We are making slow progress, and I suggest that shorter questions should be asked.