§ 62. Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reconsider extending the categories of entitlements to mobility allowance to cover those suffering from agoraphobia.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI recognise the problems of agoraphobics and of other groups to which my attention is frequently drawn. I am, however, sure that the priorities we have announced are right in present circumstances. The mobility allowance is being introduced to give assistance to those disabled people who are unable to walk, or virtually unable to do so, because of physical disablement. The allowance also ends the anomaly of the previous scheme under which help for those unable to walk depended on ability to drive.