§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, in respect of the fares to work scheme for disabled people, he will invite the Manpower Services Commission to examine the implications of, and if necessary amend, the criterion that a disabled person must be employed under special conditions in ordinary employment, with a view to ensuring that disabled people in receipt of the mobility allowance are eligible for help notwithstanding the fact that they may not need any special facilities or equipment; and whether similar help is or can be made available to people in receipt of the mobility allowance in sheltered employment;
(2) whether, in respect of the fares to work scheme for disabled people, the mobility allowance is taken into account in assessing income; and whether the extra costs of disabled living are taken into account in the scale of notional subsistence allowances.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is examining the conditions for receipt of assistance under the fares to work scheme for disabled people as part of a general review of the scheme which is currently 175W being undertaken. This will cover both the question of sheltered employment and employment under special conditions in open employment.
Receipt of mobility allowance does not debar disabled people from receiving assistance under the existing fares to work scheme and is excluded when calculating the net income of an applicant. Extra costs arising from the effects of the disability—e.g., special diet, special clothing, etc.—are taken into account by the Employment Service Agency in its assessment of the contribution to be made. The scheme does not at present apply to people working in sheltered employment, although employers can in appropriate cases provide assistance with travelling.