§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will abolish the regulation requiring the nonpayment of attendance allowance to children in hospital for more than four weeks in order to compensate parents of such children for the additional cost of travel and child-minding which arise from such hospitalisation.
§ Mr. RossiNo. Child benefit is available for all children in hospital where expenses are incurred.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will abolish the six-month qualification period for attendance allowance.
§ Mr. RossiMy right hon. Friend has no plans to abolish the six months qualifing period. The purpose of the allowance is to provide financial assistance to those severely disabled people who have settled long-term attendance needs. Six months is generally accepted as the period required to establish those needs.