§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to improve the take-up rate of attendance allowance for the mentally handicapped.
§ Mr. RossiNo national estimate is available of the number of mentally handicapped persons eligible for the benefit. There has, however, been a continuing increase in the number of disabled people claiming attendance allowance—from 147,000 in 1980 to 166,000 in 1981 and 193,000 in 1982.