HL Deb 14 December 1995 vol 567 c114WA
Lord Rix

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to extend the restriction of entitlement to the mobility component to people in non-National Health Service residential care; and

How much money will be saved by denying entitlement to the mobility component to people with learning disability: (a) in National Health Service hospitals, and (b) in National Health Service community homes; and

Whether they will list the reasons identified for less than full use of the mobility component for the benefit of some hospital in-patients; and

What research was undertaken before the change of policy on payments of the mobility allowance mobility component to people in National Health Service residential care.

The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)

The Government propose to align the arrangements for payment of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to people in hospital more closely with those for similar benefits, where payment is suspended after a period of hospital in-patient treatment. There is no information held about the number of people with learning disabilities likely to be affected by this proposal but overall savings have been estimated at £40 million per year. There are no plans to extend this proposal to people in non-National Health Service (NHS) residential care.

In making this proposal, Ministers took account of information about the use to which hospital in-patients put their mobility component. This was obtained through discussions between officials and NHS staff held at a number of trusts throughout the country, responsible for a wide range of patient groups. This demonstrated that, whilst in hospital; most patient needs are met by the NHS; patients admitted for acute treatment have very limited mobility needs; patients in longer term care may have some scope for independent mobility (dependent on the severity and nature of their disability) but a large part of the benefit payment tends to be used to buy personal items, such as distinctive bedding, televisions and clothes, or left to accrue in bank accounts.

The Government have a responsibility to use public funds in the most effective way to focus help where it is most needed and on those in the best position to benefit from those funds.