§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the dates on which mobility allowance became payable for each age band now receiving it; and on what dates he intends to commence payment to each remaining age band.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe dates on which mobility allowance became payable for the age bands now receiving it are as follows:
- On 1st January 1976, for people aged 15 to 25 on that date.
- On 1st April 1976, for people aged 26 to 50 on that date.
- On 24th November 1976, for children aged 11 to 14 on that date.
- On 13th April 1977, for children aged 5 to 10 on that date.
As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 4th May, people born on or after 25th August 1923—that is, all qualified disabled people up to and including those aged 53—will become eligible for payment for 24th August 1977. I cannot say when the remaining eligible age groups will be included. Our programme is intended to be as flexible as possible. We shall include the remaining age bands by successive small age groups as soon as we can, in order to 120W complete the phasing-in programme by the end of 1979.—[Vol. 931, c. 213–4.]