§ Mr. McCartneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which groups of severely disabled people, who previously had no outdoor mobility help, will now receive the mobility allowance;
(2) what is the latest estimate of the number of severely disabled people who 142W will receive outdoor mobility help for the first time under the new mobility allowance scheme;
(3) what is her estimate of the number of severely disabled children who will receive the mobility allowance;
(4) how many people receive outdoor mobility help under the present vehicle scheme for the disabled; and how this compares with the number who will be helped under the new mobility scheme;
(5) what is the estimated total annual Government expenditure on outdoor mobility help for the disabled when the new mobility allowance scheme is in full operation.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisIt is estimated that up to 100,000 severely disabled people who are too young or too disabled to drive, or who have no wish to drive, and who are, therefore, ineligible for help under the present vehicle scheme, may qualify for the mobility allowance. It is also estimated that perhaps 30,000 of the new beneficiaries may be severely disabled children. The existing vehicle service helps some 50,000 people, so we hope to be trebling the number of severely disabled people receiving outdoor mobility help by the new scheme. On the basis of an extra 100,000 beneficiaries, the gross cost of the new arrangements to the Department would overall be some £39 million when the allowance is fully phased in.
§ Mr. McCartneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services over the average life of a Government-issue three-wheel vehicle, how much a disabled driver of this type of vehicle, who is entitled to the mobility allowance, would receive if he or she were to opt for the allowance instead of a vehicle.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTaking seven to eight years as a reasonable estimate of the life of a trike, and mobility allowance at £260 a year, the sum received would be around £2,000.
§ Mr. McCartneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the mobility allowance terminates on retirement; and if existing beneficiaries of mobility help from the Government will lose their rights at retirement age.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe age limit is an unavoidable consequence of the very difficult economic circumstances against 143W which the introduction of the mobility allowance—in itself a major step forward for the severely disabled—is taking place. The reserved rights of existing beneficiaries will not be subject to the age limit. My right hon. Friend and I have also made it clear that we shall seek to build on the new scheme if and when we can.
§ Mr. McCartneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people who are now in receipt of outdoor mobility help from the Government will lose their entitlement to help when the mobility allowance becomes payable.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisNone.
§ Mr. McCartneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the mobility allowance compares in value as a proportion of the cost of the mobility needs of a disabled person with the full attendance allowance as a proportion of the attendance needs of a disabled person in receipt of this allowance.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWhile any such calculation would involve making generalisations about infinitely varied individual circumstances which I do not feel able to undertake, both allowances are of course intended as a contribution towards the solution of the particular problems of disabled people to which my hon. Friend refers. We would not want to claim that the allowances fully solve the problems, but they are widely regarded as a substantial and welcome contribution.
§ Mr. McCartneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if ability to drive, or the personal ownership of a vehicle, is a condition of help from the Government under the mobility allowance scheme.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe new mobility allowance is in no way linked to the per-social ownership of a vehicle or ability to drive. The allowance will go to drivers and non-drivers alike.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether receipt of the mobility allowance will affect the quarterly allowance paid by the Department for repair and maintenance of four-wheeled vehicles supplied to the disabled.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe disabled people provided with cars will not be able144W to get mobility allowance as well. The allowance is strictly an alternative to the benefits now available under the vehicle scheme.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will allow those qualifying for mobility assistance before retiring age to retain it past the age of 60 or the age of 65 years; and, if not, why not.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisNo. As with any other possible extension of the mobility allowance scheme, this proposal could not be introduced without incurring additional expenditure for which resources are not available. Legislation would be required. The age limit will not, of course, apply to reserved rights enjoyed by existing vehicle service beneficiaries.