§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities his Department is providing in the rural area of Blyth, Nottinghamshire, to enable Miss Jennifer Evans of 49 Retford Road, Blyth, to get to her place of employment which is seven miles away.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe responsibility for assisting certain registered disabled people who are unable to use public transport to get to and from work, because of their disabilities, rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment under the Manpower Services Commission's fares-to-work 71W scheme. I understand from the employment service division of the Manpower Services Commission that Miss Evans has not yet made an application for assistance under this scheme, which is aimed mainly at helping people who do not received mobility allowance. It may be in her interests to do so now.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department has refused to grant a mobility allowance to Miss Jennifer Evans of 49 Retford Road, Blyth, Nottinghamshire, who had her leg amputated in 1975.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI wrote to my hon. Friend on 25th April 1978 and 23rd June 1978 explaining that the independent adjudicating authorities who determine mobility allowance claims had decided that Miss Evans does not meet the medical criteria for eligibility of being unable, or virtually unable, to walk because of physical disablement. I am unable to add to the letters I sent my hon. Friend because neither I nor officials of my Department can intervene in, set aside or in any way interfere with, the decisions of the independent adjudicating authorities. If my hon. Friend would like to discuss with me Miss Evans' appeal rights, I shall be glad to be of help.