Disabled Drivers (Hansard, 27 July 1977)

§ Mr. Alfred Morris

Yes. Our plans are now complete and we shall be phasing these disabled drivers into the mobility allowance scheme, if they so wish, on special terms. The change will entitle many thousands of disabled drivers to the mobility allowance—rising to£7a week in November—for the first time. Those who have or used to have a car or a tricycle, or a private car allowance, under the former NHS vehicle scheme, can now qualify for mobility allowance instead.

They will become eligible in two groups, namely, people with surnames beginning A-K on 16th November 1977, and those with surnames beginning L-Z on 15th February 1978. Those with private car allowances will be brought in on 5th July 1978, taking into account both the main mobility allowance phasing-in programme and the period for which private car allowance is paid.

The special terms involved are that eligible NHS vehicle scheme beneficiaries 293W will be able to switch without further medical examination and without age limit.

Even more significantly, however, this new option will end the hardship and inequity of the former vehicle scheme, whereby disabled people entirely lost their mobility benefit if they lost their jobs or became too disabled to drive.

There will be a transitional period during which some people who had a vehicle scheme benefit between 1st January 1970 and 31st December 1975 may in certain circumstances re-establish reserved rights under the scheme. This transitional period will end on 31st March 1978. We shall be publishing details in the specialist Press and will also be writing to organisations concerned.

We are preparing a leaflet—NI 225—which will be available in August, setting out the option in clear terms. Copies of the leaflet will be sent to all the vehicle scheme beneficiaries we can identify. We have consulted disabled representatives of the main mobility organisations on the drafting of the leaflet and our original draft has been amended to take account of as many of their comments as possible.

I have today laid before the House regulations—the Mobility Allowance (Vehicle Scheme Beneficiaries) Regulations 1977—to give effect to the changes. I have also written to my hon. Friend and to the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) in their capacities as chairman and secretary respectively of the All-Party Disablement Group, outlining our plans for implementation.