HC Deb 08 February 1972 vol 830 cc313-4W
54. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications from severely disabled people for the constant attendance allowance have now been accepted.

Mr. Dean

Up to 1st February, about 68,000 claims from severely disabled people for the new attendance allowance had been successful.

59. Mr. Whitlock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions on medical requirements have been issued by him as to the degree of severity of disability and the frequency of attention which must be proved for the granting of attendance allowance for a handicapped child.

Mr. Dean

None. The medical requirements for children are set out in Section 4(2) of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970, and Regulation 7(4) of the National Insurance (Attendance Allowance) Regulations, 1971 (Statutory Instrument 1971 No. 621). The application of these statutory provisions in any individual case is a matter for the Attendance Allowance Board set up under the Act.

60. Mr. Whitlock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the number of attendance allowances granted is being limited in any way by regard to a finite sum of money nationally available for that purpose.

Mr. Dean

No. We estimated that up to 50.000 people including 10,000 children would qualify for the attendance allowance. Up to 1st February, about 68,000 people had been awarded the allowance; this figure included 16,500 awards for severely disabled children. Many claims are still under consideration.

61. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give further consideration to the simplification and clarification of the review and appeal procedures open to applicants for the constant attendance allowance.

Mr. Dean

Up to 25th January, 12,000 people had applied to the Attendance Allowance Board for a review and, of 7,500 applications dealt with, 5,600 had been successful. I think this shows that the procedures work satisfactorily, but the letter advising people of their entitlement to apply for a review has been revised to emphasise this right, and the revised version should be in use next week.