§ Baroness MASHAM of ILTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps will be taken to achieve flexibility of use of the mobility allowance paid to severely handicapped longstay residents of hospitals for the mentally handicapped in order to improve their quality of life and to avoid abuse of the allowance.
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, we are concerned at the amount of money accumulating in the accounts of some long-stay patients, particularly in mental handicap hospitals. We are looking at ways of enabling their social security benefits, including mobility allowances, to be used more flexibly while at the same time avoiding abuse. We shall consult widely before any changes are introduced.
§ Baroness MASHAM of ILTONMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. May I ask him whether he is aware that there is much concern about this matter among community health councils throughout the country and also whether he is aware that when patients die, not having spent this money, the next-of-kin can claim it? Would it not be of benefit if the money went back to the Department of Health and Social Security, thus representing a saving to the state?
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, as I have said, we are looking at the problem, but I must tell your 1102 Lordships that there are no easy answers. We have to balance the need to ensure that benefits belong to individuals to spend as they wish against the understandable desire of health authorities, where the patient cannot manage his own affairs and they are acting for him, to be able to spend the money more flexibly in order to improve the quality of life for patients rather than let it pile up. However, we have been working on this for some months now and I hope that we shall be able to put forward some proposals in the near future. As I have said, we shall need to consult widely before changes are introduced.
§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, where anomalies exist, would it not be possible for the Government to consider publishing, if possible annually, a report on the awards of these mobility allowances, in particular where genuine cases of hardship are denied the allowance, and also on those cases which receive the allowance but which in some instances are quite unjustified?
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, I will pass on that suggestion to my right honourable friend.
§ Baroness MASHAM of ILTONMy Lords, could I ask the noble Lord just how much money has piled up in people's accounts which is not being used at the moment?
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNEMy Lords, it is a large sum of money. The amounts recorded in the National Health Service accounts rose from £ 9–7 million in 1974–75 to £ 21–8 million in 1978–79. Even allowing for inflation, that is a rise of £ 54 million.