§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending eligibility for the mobility allowance to women aged 60 to 65 years.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAt the £7 a week rate effective from November this year the additional cost might be of the order of £8 million in a full year.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the possibility of linking the value of the mobility allowance to the cost of motoring or of public transport.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe November increase in mobility allowance, from £5 to £7 a week, will provide a larger percentage increase than would have been made on the basis either of the general retail price index or of the movement in items reflecting transport costs—which has been slightly less than that of the general index. We are not proposing any change in the present statutory provisions for an annual review of the level of the allowance.