HC Deb 24 February 1998 vol 307 cc213-5W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of disability living allowance in the Stoke-on-Trent area are currently in work. [27661]

Mr. Denham

This information is not available because the sample sizes would be too small to yield trustworthy figures for an area such as Stoke-on-Trent, therefore there is no regional breakdown of recipients in work.

The following gives the National proportions of those customers who have earnings, split by components:

  • 7 per cent. of all DLA recipients received earnings; of this 7 per cent:
  • 30 per cent. receive DLA care only (ie 2 per cent. of all DLA recipients);
agreement. They pay for the car, provided on beneficial terms, by assigning all or part of the benefit to that scheme.

There is no direct cost to the Department of the provision of cars under Motability, although the Department pays most of the administration costs of Motability Ltd. by grant. Motability Ltd. is a registered charity. Grants are also made to the Mobility Equipment Fund (MEF), incorporating the Drivers Fund (DF), for adaptations to vehicles to allow the most severely disabled to drive or be driven. These funds are administered on behalf of the Government by Motability Ltd. The amounts of the grants paid by the Department are shown in the table. Grants made to Motability Ltd. in respect of the business carried on in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Exemptions from Vehicle Excise Duty is available to recipients of the HRM component of DLA, and WPMS. Certain groups in receipt of Attendance Allowance prior to 12 October 1993 have preserved rights to exemption under the Disabled Passenger Scheme.

The number of cars provided under the Motability scheme, the number of MEF/DF grants and the number of VED exemptions granted are shown in the table.

In addition to the above there is the Invalid Vehicles Scheme run by the Department of Health but administered on their behalf by the Benefits Agency. Drivers of invalid three-wheelers provided under the scheme have underlying title to the HRM component of DLA but may not receive the benefit in addition to their three-wheeler.

  • 37 per cent. receive DLA mobility only (ie 3 per cent. of all DLA recipients); and
  • 33 per cent. receive both components (ie 2 per cent. of all DLA recipients).

The figures are based on the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS) which is the latest available. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non response.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the outcome of the review of the decision to withdraw disability living allowance from Mrs. C. J. Archer of Queen's Road, Brixham, Devon. [30791]

Mr. Denham

The administration of the Benefits Integrity Project is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 23 February 23 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what was the outcome of the review of the decision to withdraw Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from Mrs. Archer of Brixham, Devon. The outcome of the review to withdraw DLA was notified to Mrs. Archer in the revised decision of 4 February. This informed Mrs. Archer that the DLA mobility component has been reinstated at the higher rate for life. However, the Adjudication Officer maintained the decision relating to the care component, in that there was no entitlement. Details of Mrs. Archer's right to appeal against the decision not to reinstate her care component were notified and included in this decision. Arrears of benefit, amounting to £830.40, were authorised on 4 February. These covered the period from 27 August 1997 to 10 February 1998. I hope you find this reply helpful.

Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will publish the number of people in the Wrexham area who, during the latest six months for which figures are available, have had their award of disability living allowance(a) stopped, (b) decreased and (c) increased; and within the categories (a) and (b) how many people have requested a review and (i) had their awards reinstated, (ii) had partial reinstatement and (iii) been refused reinstatement. [30857]

Mr. Denham

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) awards decreased and increased in Great Britain during six months ending 30 November 1997
Number
Awards decreased 16,400
Awards increased 54,300

Note:

The sample sizes would be too small to yield trustworthy figures for an area such as Wrexham.

Source:

Analytical Services Division (5 per cent. data).