§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the estimated £26 million allocated for the mobility allowance is expected to be recouped from each of the following: (a) direct taxation, (b) withdrawal of private car allowances and (c) withdrawal of vehicle excise duty exemption.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe £26 million cost quoted by the hon. Member is the gross cost of paying mobility allowance to the 100,000 additional beneficiaries, at present receiving no outdoor mobility help, who, it is estimated, might qualify for the allowance. That estimate is based primarily on data from the 1968–69 national survey of the "Handicapped and Impaired", which provides no real basis for estimates of the tax liability of those concerned. Reliable estimates of the net effect of the transfer to mobility allowance of those at present receiving benefits under the vehicle service could not be undertaken until we know how many people do choose the allowance in preference to their present benefit.