§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will now make provision for periodic review of the mobility allowance to severely handicapped people.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe existing legislation already makes provision for my right hon. Friend to consider, in the tax year 1976–77 and each subsequent tax year, whether the rate of the allowance should be increased, having regard to the national economic situation as a whole, the general standard of living and such other factors as she thinks relevant.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the social and medical justification for ceasing to pay the new mobility allowance to severely handicapped persons when they reach the statutory age for retirement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAs the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, the scope of the new mobility allowance scheme has had to be determined by reference to the resources available in extremely diffi-580W cult economic conditions. We decided that, in the present context, these limited resources could best be used to help adults of working age and children. Our legislative proposals in this sense were approved by Parliament in the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.