§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of applications for full and for partial attendance allowances, respectively, have been granted and refused during each of the months in respect of which such allowances have 363W been available; how many and what percentage of such refusals have been in respect of applicants with physical and mental disabilities, respectively; and what were the age categories of such refusals.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisApplications are made simply for the allowance, not for the higher or lower rate, and a breakdown into types of disability is not maintained for rejected cases. The other information is not readily available in the form requested, but I can give my hon. and learned Friend the following information.
For adults, between June 1971, when applications for attendance allowance at the higher rate were first accepted, and November 1972, when the first lower rate allowances were awarded, 151,000 claims were made. Of these, some 82,000 (54 per cent.) were granted and 69,000 (46 per cent.) were refused. Since November 1972, 147,000 applications have been made. Of those so far dealt with, some 46,000 (35 per cent.) have been granted at the higher rate; 20,000 (15 per cent.) from those aged 16–64, and 22,000 (16 per cent.) from those aged 65 and over have been granted at the lower rate; altogether, some 16,000 (12 per cent.) applications from those aged 16–64 and 29,000 (22 per cent.) from those aged 65 and over have been refused.
For children under 16, between June 1971 and May 1973, when the first lower rate awards were made in respect of them, 35,000 applications were made, of which 24,000 (67 per cent.) were granted at the higher rate and 11,000 (33 per cent.) were refused. Since May 1973, 15,500 applications have been made. Of those so far dealt with, some 4,000 (27 per cent.) have been granted at the higher rate; 9,000 (61 per cent.) have been granted at the lower rate; altogether, 1,800 (12 per cent.) have been refused.
The above figures refer solely to initial applications. In about 40,000 cases, applications for review have been made and, of those decided so far, over 20,000 have been successful and 18,000 unsuccessful.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants who have been refused attendance allowances have brought appeals to the commissioners of national insurance during each of the months when such appeal procedure was available to 364W them; how many and what percentage for partial allowances; and how many and what percentage of such failures concerned disabled children of those ages in respect of which statistics are available.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisApplications for leave to appeal to the commissioner on a point of law can only be made against decisions of the Attendance Allowance Board given on review. A breakdown into types of cases other than between adults and children is not maintained. but I can give my hon. and learned Friend the following information.
For adults, up to 16th April 1974, there have been 565 applications to the commissioner for leave to appeal. Of the 536 cases so far decided by the commissioner, 258 (48 per cent.) have resulted in successful appeals. Of the remainder, 264 (49 per cent.) were not granted leave to appeal—including 58 cases withdrawn with the commissioner's consent—and 14 appeals were dismissed.
For children under 16, for the same period, there have been 169 applications to the commissioner for leave to appeal. Of the 157 cases so far decided by the commissioner, 90 (57 per cent.) have resulted in successful appeals. Of the remainder, 64 (40 per cent.) were not granted leave to appeal—including 24 cases withdrawn with the commissioner's consent—and three appeals were dismissed.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has given to the Attendance Allowance Board regarding the regulation of its procedures.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisNone.