§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a further statement on the progress of Motability, including details of the help given by his Department and the resources now being made available to disabled people, through the mobility allowance to spend with Motability if they so wish.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI was pleased to be present when the first cars leased through Motability were handed over to
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Doctors Pharmacists Per million population Hospital beds Canada … 1,710 (1975) 590* (1974) 9,200 (1974) United Kingdom … 1,340† (1974) 310‡ (1974) 8,940§(1974) * Number on register. Not all working in the country. † Includes personnel in Government services only for Scotland. ‡ Includes personnel in Government services only for England, Wales and Scotland. § Government hospital establishments. disabled drivers and passengers on 25th July.
My Department is helping Motability by providing certain office services, by mailing its literature to recipients of the mobility allowance, by arranging to pay over the mobility allowance direct to Motability Finance Limited and by making a grant towards administration costs under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. The amount of our grant is at present under discussion with Motability. When the mobility allowance is fully phased-in by the end of 1979 the Government will be providing at least £65 million a year that beneficiaries of the allowance could spend with Motability.