§ Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance his Department issues over narcolepsy and catalepsy concerning attendance allowance guidelines.
§ Mr. ScottThe Department does not issue guidelines on medical conditions and the attendance allowance. The responsibility for issuing such guidance rests with the independent attendance allowance board. I understand that the board does not find it practicable to give guidance on every medical condition and that there are no specific guidelines on these two particular diseases. However, the board's general guidance on deciding claims still applies and if people suffering from them require sufficient attention or supervision from another person, they can qualify for the allowance in the same way as someone suffering from any other disease.