§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled persons, previously aided by one of the Government's schemes for mobility up to the end of 1975, are not eligible for the mobility allowance.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI take it that the hon. Lady has in mind the vehicle scheme provided under the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. All the people who hold benefits awarded ender that scheme will have the main medical and age criteria for mobility allowance deemed to be satisfied under the terms of Clause 11 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill at present before Parliament. Those who might have become new beneficiaries under the vehicle scheme, had it continued, include people over pensionable age and those who would have been found eligible under category 3 but who are not so severely disabled as to meet the medical criteria for mobility allowance. The total number annually may be estimated at 2,000. On the other hand, some 40,000 people have so far claimed successfully under the mobility allowance scheme.