§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the cost of paying the care component of the disability living allowance at all three levels to people who become disabled after the age of 65 years net of savings in the administration costs and payment of attendance allowance.
§ Mr. ScottIt is very difficult to estimate with any degree of certainty whether paying the three rates of the care component of disability living allowance to people who become disabled after the age of 65, rather than the two rates of attendance allowance currently available to them, would result in administrative savings or costs. The benefit cost of introducing such a change, net of anticipated expenditure on attendance allowance, would be in the region of £165 million in the first full year.