§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are receiving the mobility allowance, at the latest available date, in the following age groups, 0 to five years, six to 10 years, 11 years, 15 years, 16 years, 25 years, 26 years, 40 years, 41 to 55 years, 55 to 65 years, and 65 to 75 years; and if he will show the cost of supplying the mobility allowance to each of the groups mentioned.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. Statistics relating to awards of mobility allowance are collected in five year age-bands except for ages 25, 35, 45 and 55. Details of awards in these groups at the latest available date-20th November—are as follows:
Age Number of awards Equivalent annual cost £ 5–9 7,217 3,752,840 10–14 7,428 3,862,560 15–19 6,081 3,162,120 20–24 4,094 2,128,880 25 757 393,640 26–29 3,292 1,711,840 30–34 5,029 2,615,080 35 1,026 533,520 36–39 4,007 2,083,640 40–44 6,472 3,365,440 45 1,476 767,520 46–49 7,625 3,965,000 50–54 13,493 7,016,360 55 2,853 1,483,560 56–59* 4,729 2,459,080 60–65f† Nil Nil 65–75‡ Nil Nil Total 75,579§ 39,301,080 *Includes only people born after 13th January 1921.Those born after 20th December 1919, will not be awarded earlier than 20th December 1978. †Claims cannot yet be made by this group. ‡The existing legislation limits eligibility to pensionable age (65 for men, 60 for women). § This total does not include 2,817 beneficiaries who were awarded mobility allowance and subsequently transferred to mobility allowance without age limit under the Vehicle Scheme Beneficiaries Regulations 1977. No age split is recorded for this group.