§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice is given to examining medical officers on the virtually-unable-to-walk eligibility requirement for mobility allowance.
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§ Mr. NewtonI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 21 November at column203.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaf-blind people are currently in receipt of mobility allowance; how many have appealed after an initial refusal; how many have succeeded on appeal; and what are these figures on geographical basis.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of extending mobility allowance to (a) all deaf-blind people and (b) deaf-blind people between the ages of five and 65 years.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that information on which to base an estimate is not available.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the Oglesby report, he is looking at ways in which medical reports on mobility allowance claims could be simplified and used by the claimant's own doctor.
§ Mr. NewtonWe are still considering this recommendation.