HC Deb 27 July 1989 vol 157 cc875-6W
Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the trial exercise to transfer certain accounting work presently carried out at the Post Office at Chesterfield and Edinburgh to the Department of Health and Social Security in Northern Ireland has been successfully carried out.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The trial has been fully evaluated in consultation with the Post Office and results have shown that the work can be carried out more efficiently and economically at the paid order store in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people who, but for their age, would be eligible for mobility allowance.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 20 July 1989]: We estimate that there are a further 1,150,000 people who would qualify for mobility allowance if the age limits were abolished, thus tripling the current caseload at a cost of nearly £1½ billion. This estimate is based on projections of the numbers who are already receiving the allowance.