§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there is a different lower age at which entitlement to mobility allowance and attendance allowance begin.
§ Mr. RossiAttendance allowance was introduced in 1971 with a lower age limit of two years, that being the age at which it is generally possible to identify any abnormal need for attention. When mobility allowance was introduced in 1976 the Government of the day. having regard to limited resources and the view that younger children's mobility problems are less acute, decided on a lower age limit of five years. The availability of resources and the need to determine priorities remain limiting factors on improvements in benefits.