§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many 172W disabled people have received the personal car allowance in each of the last four years.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe number of private car allowances in payment in England at 31st December in each year was as follows:
1974 18,647 1975 23,680 1976 19,891 1977 18,208 The reduction in numbers in 1976 and 1977 was largely due to the introduction of mobility allowance on 1st January 1976. Apart from cases in the pipeline at that time, private car allowances have not been awarded to National Health Service applicants since then, and, as mobility allowance is phased in, holders of private car allowances granted before 1976 are being enabled to apply for mobility allowance instead of private car allowance.