§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in what circumstances her Department makes available financial support to handicapped persons receiving attendance allowance to assist them with the running costs of their own private motor vehicles.
(2) What circumstances her Department makes available financial support to the spouses of handicaped persons, receiving attendance allowance, to assist them with the running costs of their own private motor vehicles.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisSuch financial support is provided for severely disabled people, eligible to be provided by the Department with an invalid vehicle or car, who choose instead to be paid an allowance of £100 a year towards the expenses of running a car of their own; some may also be receiving attendance allowance. The allowance is paid only when the handicapped person himself— not his spouse—owns and can drive the car. The mobility allowance announced on 13th September will not be dependent on ability to drive or possession of a car.
§ Mr. Albert Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the increasing cost of petrol for the private motorist, if she will consider making proposals to relieve financial hardship in the case of disabled motorists who are wholly dependent upon their cars.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy right hon. Friend announced on 21st November— [Vol. 881, c. 1555.]—that all drivers of invalid vehicles and cars supplied by the Health Departments would be paid a348W petrol allowance of £10 a year. The Government's priority for disabled people who do not have Ministry vehicles is the new mobility allowance, details of which were announced by my right hon. Friend on 13th September 1974.