Mr. Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be able to accept claims for mobility allowance for those severely disabled persons 657W who are unable to walk or who are virtually unable to do so, and are over 50 years of age but under pensionable age.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisApplications in respect of children aged 5 to 10 are now being accepted, for payment from 13th April. This means that people aged between 5 and 51—those born on or after 2nd April 1925—are now eligible. I cannot at present indicate exactly when further age groups will be included, but we aim to continue phasing in small groups within the overall and fairly large group of those between 51 and pension age so as to complete the phasing programme by the end of 1979.