61. Mr. Milanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to apply the proposal that an invalid vehicle issued to a person who needs it to get to full-time work shall be withdrawn on cessation of employment only to those who have ceased work permanently or also to those who are seeking alternative employment.
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§ Mr. AlisonWe intend to strike a sensible balance between an unreasonably rapid withdrawal and such long deferment as to defeat the object of the change.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give financial figures and the number of persons involved for each of the changes recently announced by him in the arrangements for providing vehicles to severely disabled persons.
§ Mr. AlisonThis was a package deal and I cannot offer meaningful figures for each change because the numbers involved depend upon the options exercised for differing benefits and upon individual medical examinations yet to be undertaken of thousands of people. My broad objective has been to ensure that, given any reasonable permutation of applications, any net additional cost of the service will not exceed the available resources.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his proposal to reduce the cash assistance accompanying an invalid vehicle will apply only to future recipients of vehicles or to all those who hold a vehicle.
§ Mr. AlisonThe petrol allowance will continue to be paid to all who now receive it. The higher rate of cash assistance to those already using cars issued by the Departments will continue while they provide a garage.