§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he is taking to publicise Social Security Commissioners' decision R(M) 2/81;
(2) whether, in the light of the social security commissioners' decision R(M) 2/81, he will amend the guidance issued to medical practitioners to make it clear that someone who, while 'capable of making the movements required in the activity of walking' is none the 51W less, 'in fact unable to walk to any place to which he desires to go without help and guidance from another person', is eligible for mobility allowance;
(3) whether, in the light of the social security commissioners' decision R(M) 2/81, he will amend the guidance issued to medical practitioners to make clear that, for the purposes of mobility allowance, 'unable to walk' means 'unable to walk to any place to which the claimant desires to go without help and guidance'.
§ Mr. RossiUnder commissioners' decision R(M) 2/81, mobility allowance was payable to a blind claimant who also suffered from a physical disablement in his balance mechanism and sense of direction which meant that he needed much help from another person in order to progress in a desired direction. In a later comparable case another commissioner has taken an opposite view about entitlement to the allowance. Further decisions are awaited which, it is hoped, will clarify the position.
In the meantime we do not intend to amend the guidance to medical practitioners or to take special steps to publicise R(M) 2/81. It has been published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the usual way and has already attracted public attention and comment.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaf-blind people are now in receipt of mobility allowance.
§ Mr. RossiThe information is not available.
1 June 1979 1 June 1980 1 June 1981 1 June 1982 Number of staff at Swindon Office 174 173 170 171 Number of claimants at Swindon Office 12 10 9 8 Supplementary Benefits 7,753 8,143 10,166 11,727 Contributory Benefits 2,887 2,807 2,096 2,357 Figures for Supplementary benefits are the number of cases in action on the dates shown. Figures for contributory benefits are the number of claims received in the four week period ended on the date shown.