§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now give details of the phasing-in of the next age-group of disabled people to be included in the mobiilty allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:I am glad to say that a further commencement order will be laid before the House in January. This will bring into the scheme men and women aged 59 and 60. They will be invited to claim mobility allowance in March and payments will commence next June. We anticipate that between 8,000 and 10,000 successful claims will be received from this age group. I shall make a further announcement as soon as possible about the precise date from which claims may be made.
Our present expectation is that ultimately there will be 145,000 receiving the allowance when it is fully phased-in. By the financial year 1980–81 we shall be spending an estimated £89.7 million on outdoor mobility for the disabled.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now update the table of total expenditure by his 296W Department on mobility help, which was provided in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 24th February, to reflect the proposed further improvements in the mobility allowance scheme.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:The following is the information:
ANNUAL TOTAL EXPENDITURE BY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY Financial Year £-million 1972–73 9.2 1973–74 11.2 1974–75 13.1 1975–76 17.2 1976–77 26.2 1977–78 40.3* 1978–79 65.7* 1979–80 82.5* 1980–81 89.7* *estimated