§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when claims will be accepted for mobility allowance on behalf of children between the ages of 5 and 10 years.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI am very pleased to announce that we shall shortly be making a further commencement order, under the Social Security Act 1975, to enable claims to mobility allowance to be made on behalf of disabled children aged between 5 and 10 inclusive. This is a further important advance in provision for disabled children. Claims on204W behalf of disabled children in the 5–10 age group will be accepted from 12th January 1977, and payment of the allowance will start on 13th April.
It must be emphasised that the new allowance is payable to disabled children in their own right, whether they are living at home or in residential area. We want every entitled child to receive the allowance from the outset on 13th April. I am, therefore, putting in hand arrangement to draw this announcement to the attention of the families of disabled children—and others concerned—and also to encourage all who may be eligible to claim the new benefit.