§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on progress in dealing with claims for the new mobility allowance for disabled people.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAt 7th May a total of 40,437 applications had been received, of which 29,310 were from people within the age group—15–50—currently eligible to claim. Claims are still being received at the rate of about 1,000 a week. A substantial number of the claims are still being dealt with, but at 4th May 13,999 awards had been made. This compares with 2,728 rejections. The success rate among claimants for mobility allowance at this early stage is, therefore, 84 per cent.