§ 17. Mr. Jonathan Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford)If the mobility component of disability living allowance related to people living in accommodation provided by the NHS will be included within the welfare benefits review. [47485]
§ Mr. ShawI am grateful for that reply, succinct as it was. Is my right hon. Friend aware that people with learning disabilities and physical handicaps who move from long-stay hospitals to live in community homes run by health trusts are classed as in-patients? As a consequence of changes to the higher mobility component within disability living allowance that were introduced in 1996, they are no longer able to claim it. Such people, however, are classed as out-patients in respect of prescription charges and are allowed to receive the benefits of that classification. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is an anomaly, and that a review is required? Will he liaise with the Department of Health to ensure that that vulnerable group of people are able to get out and about, as they need to if they are to take part in community life?