§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, on the basis of the information given by the Government Actuary in Command Paper No. 7091, what would be the cost in a full year of raising the maximum age qualification of women for mobility allowance from 60 to 65 years, thus bringing it into line with the maximum age qualification for men.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisOn the basis of 100,000 new beneficiaries, the additional 729W cost in a full year at the July 1978 rate of £10 a week is estimated at about £12 million. This excludes those with invalid vehicles or private car allowances who may choose to switch to no-age-limit mobility allowance.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is able to announce the next age groups to be phased in for mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI propose to lay a further commencement order before the House shortly. This will cover two age-groups of disabled people as follows:
When the second age group is phased in, all eligible disabled people aged between five and 58 will be able to claim mobility allowance.
- (a) those born on or after 14th January 1921, to claim from 7th June 1978 with payment from 6th September 1978; and
- (b) those born on or after 21st December 1919, to claim from 20th September 1978 with payment from 20th December 1978.
We shall do all we can to draw the new order to the attention of everyone who can benefit.