§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the numbers of children who would receive the (a) higher rate and (b) the lower rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance if the age limit of five years was (i) removed altogether, (ii) reduced to age two and (iii) reduced to age three; and what is the estimate of the costs in each category;
(2) how many awards of the care component of the disability living allowance are currently payable in respect 1134W of children aged under five years at (a) the higher rate, (b) the middle rate and (c) the lower rate, by main disabling condition;
(3) how many claims for disability living allowance care component have been made in respect of children aged under five years since 1992; and how many were refused, giving figures for each reason for refusal.
§ Mr. HagueThe tables set out the best available estimates of the caseload and expenditure implications of changes to the lower age limit for claiming the mobility component of disability living allowance; and information on current awards of the care component of disability living allowance to children aged under five years. No information is available on the number of claims made in respect of the care component of disability living allowance, the number refused or the reasons for refusal.
Changes to age limit for DLA mobility component: estimated numbers of gainers 1994–95 Mobility component Total abolition of age limit Age limit reduced to age 2 Age limit reduced to age 3 Higher rate 9,000 8,000 6,000 Lower rate 10,000 8,000 6,000 Total 19,000 16,000 12,000 Note: These estimates are highly uncertain and subject to significant margins of error, therefore should be treated with extreme caution.
Changes to age limit for DLA mobility component: estimated additional costs 1994–95 (1994 prices) Mobility component Total abolition of age limit £ million Age limit reduced to age 2 £ million Age limit reduced to age 3 £ million Higher rate 16 13 9 Lower rate 6 5 4 Total 22 18 13 Notes: These estimates are highly uncertain and subject to significant margins of error, therefore should be treated with extreme caution.
DLA care component: number of awards to children under five by main disabling condition (thousands) Rate of care component Higher Middle Lower Total Muscle/bone/joint disease 1 2 — 3 Blindness — — — 1 Stroke related 1 — — 1 Learning difficulties 2 4 1 7 Epilepsy 1 1 — 1 Deafness — 1 — 1 Chest disease 1 — — 2 Heart disease 1 — — 1 Asthma 2 2 2 6 Neurological Diseases 2 1 — 3 Skin Diseases — 1 — 2 Other causes 3 3 — 6 All causes 14 16 4 34 Notes:
As at 31 August 1994.
Source:
DSS analytical Services Division—based on a 5 per cent. sample. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, so component parts may not sum to totals.