§ Mr. Forresterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the length of time now being taken for each step in the phasing-in of the mobility allowance; and whether he is able to make an estimate when he expects to complete the introduction of the allowance.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWe are now accepting claims from disabled people born after 13th January 1921 for payment to begin on 6th September 1978. On 20th September, we shall begin accepting claims for the next age-group, people born after 20th December 1919, for payment to begin on 20th December 1978. We have given Parliament undertakings that the phased introduction of the allowance, to include everyone who is eligible under pensionable age, will be completed by the end of 1979. Full details of the dates when new age-groups can claim will be made available as soon as the necessary commencement orders to the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 are made. For each age-group, the commencement order will give a date from which payments will commence and a date, three months earlier, from which claims will be accepted.