HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 cc29-30W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services' what further consideration he has given to

Attendance Allowance as at 31 December 1979 Mobility Allowance as at 31December 1980
Social Security Region Number✶ Rate per 1,000 Population Number† Population Rate per 1,000 Population
Northern 16,500 5.5 9,400 3.16
Yorkshire and Humberside 23,500 4.7 17,670 3.57
East Midlands and East Anglia 26,500 4.9 14,510 2.65
London North 21,000 4.0 12,500 2.39
London West 26,500 4.8 11,890 2.15
London South 36,000 5.9 15,560 2.55
South-West 25,000 5.8 12,130 2.81
West Midlands 26,000 5.1 14,680 2.85
North Western (Manchester) 18,000 5.2 11,870 3.49
North Western (Merseyside) 20,500 6.3 10,640 3.26
Wales 22,500 8.1 11,560 4.17
Scotland 24,000 4.7 15,850 3.07
Great Britain 286,000 5.3 158,260 2.91
✶ Estimated.
†Excludes those awarded mobility allowance under the Vehicle Scheme Beneficiaries Regulations 1977 (26,400 at 31 December 1980).

Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for attendance allowance and mobility allowances were made in 1980 in each Department of Health and Social Security region; and what percentage was granted.

the policy of the Redbridge borough council in charging disabled people living on supplementary benefit for their home helps; if there have been any recent developments reported to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rossi

No reports have reached the Department which suggest any significant change in the position as summarised in the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Prentice) the former Minister for Social Security gave the right hon. Gentleman on 26 June—[Vol. 987, c.277]— or would justify any alteration in the Department's long-standing policy on the issues concerned as referred to in his reply on 30 June—[Vol. 987, c. 446-47.]

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to require all local authorities to inform him of the number of disabled people living on supplementary benefit who are required to pay for their home helps.

Mr. Rossi

No. It Js the policy of the Government, with the support of local government interests, to keep to a minimum the statistical information that local authorities are required to provide to central Government.