§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the percentage upratings in the mobility allowance from November to November in 1978 to 1979, 1979 to 1980 and 1980 to 1981; what were the estimated percentage increase in motoring costs, taking a Mini automatic covering 10,000 miles in a year, or any other small car convenient for the calculation, from November to November in the years 1978 to 1979 and 1979 to 1980; what estimate he has made for the increase in costs of such a car in the year from November 1980 to November 1981; and how this compares in percentage terms with the increase in the mobility allowance announced for the same period.
§ Mr. RossiThe increases in mobility allowance are shown in the table below, together with the corresponding increases in the transport and vehicle group index. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, mobility allowance is intended to contribute towards mobility costs, not to meet motoring costs in full.
Percentage increase in mobility allowance rate each November over preceding 12 months Percentage in- crease in Transport and Vehicle Index for November over preceding 12 months 1979 20.0 22.8 1980 21.8 12.4 1981 13.8* † * Proposed † No separate forecast is made of changes in the transport and vehicle group index