§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to restrict benefits to handicapped and disabled people in hospital; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonNone. We are, however, currently consulting on the Oglesby report's proposals for improving the arrangements for dealing with claims to mobility allowance and attendance allowance, which included an incidental recommendation to change the basis on which mobility allowance can be withdrawn from patients unable to benefit from it. As the hon. Member will be aware, we are also considering the report of a Rayner scrutiny of benefit arrangements for people in hospital, which are extremely complex; and any significant proposals arising from this will similarly be the subject of appropriate prior consultation.
Meanwhile, as I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member on 30 January—[Vol. 53, c. 109] —we expect shortly to issue for consultation revised draft guidance for health authorities on the payment, use and management of patients' money, in accordance with our general aim of maximising the extent to which patients benefits can be used to improve the quality of their lives.