§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the categories of disability under which those in receipt of mobility allowance are recorded, and the proportions of the total number in receipt that each represents.
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§ Mr. RossiThe information as at 31 December 1981 is as follows. Those awarded mobility allowance under the Vehicle Scheme Beneficiaries Regulations 1977 are not included.
Group Percentage of mobility allowance recipients 1 Neoplasms 1.6 2 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases 0.6 3 Diseases of blood and blood-forming organs 0.2 4 Diseases of central nervous system 43.2 5 Diseases of circulatory system 10.8 6 Diseases of respiratory system 7.0 7 Diseases of bones and organs of movement 26.5 8 Congenital malformations 6.1 9 Amputations 2.4 10 Diseases of digestive system 1.6 Diseases of genito-urinary system Diseases of skin and cellular tissue
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received upon mobility allowance and eligibility for it, in the light of the social security commissioners' decision R (M) 2/81.
§ Mr. RossiQuestions from the hon. Member and the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and two other representations that the deaf-blind, or the blind generally, should qualify for mobility allowance.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the cases dealt with by the social security commissioners since May 1979 where the decision made has affected eligibility for mobility allowance; and in which cases the decision has been (a) in favour of allowing eligibility and (b) against awarding eligibility.
§ Mr. RossiSince May 1979 the social security commissioners have disallowed 43 appeals against a local tribunal decision on a non-medical question and allowed none. An appeal against a medical appeal tribunal decision can be made only on the ground that the decision was erroneous in point of law. The equivalent figures for such appeals are 11 and 56. Allowed cases in this category are referred back to a differently constituted medical appeal tribunal to decide the medical questions afresh.
In addition, the commissioners have refused nine applications for leave to appeal against a local tribunal decision and about 235 applications for leave to appeal against a medical appeal tribunal decision.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases are currently awaiting a decision by the social security commissioners where that decision affects eligibility for mobility allowance; and if he will indicate the category of disability to which the cases relate.
§ Mr. RossiAbout 60 cases. I regret that the other information sought is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.