§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally handicapped people have successfully claimed the mobility allowance since the inception of the Mobility Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 1979 which came into operation on 21 March 1979; if he is satisfied with the adjudicating authorities' interpretation of the new regulations; how many such cases have reached the tribunal stage since March 1979; how many cases are currently awaiting hearing by a medical 369W tribunal; whether his Department continues to monitor the provisions of the new regulations; if, in his opinion, they are achieving the purpose for which they were designed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe Department continues to monitor the effects of the Mobility Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 1979 by speoial scrutiny of individual cases. However, the detailed information requested by my hon. Friend could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Apart from one issue at present before the National Insurance Commissioner, in which we have supported an appeal on a point of law, I am not aware of any general difficulties and I have no reason to suppose the regulations are not achieving their purpose.