§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families who benefited under the former system of grants towards disabled persons' vehicles, do not now benefit from the mobility allowance scheme; and if he will review the mobility allowance scheme to broaden its applicability.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisOver 3,000 of the 52,000 beneficiaries of the former invalid vehicle scheme, who include 20,000 people with a private car allowance, have already switched to the mobility allowance. Some of the remainder are ineligible for the mobility allowance at present. However, I am glad to say that Clause 12 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is now before the House, proposes to confer power for regulations to extend the allowance to beneficiaries of the former vehicle scheme whether or not they would otherwise be eligible on age grounds or would satisfy the medical criterion for the allowance.