§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what considerations he has given to reducing the qualifying period for the payment of constant attendance allowance, from six months to two or three months.
§ Mr. PrenticeMy right hon. Friend has no plans to reduce the six-month qualifying period. The purpose of the allowance is to provide some financial assistance to those severely disabled people who have settled long-term attendance needs. Six months is generally accepted as the period needed to establish those needs.