§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates he has made of the proportion of those entitled to attendance allowance, housewives' invalidity pension, and mobility allowance, respectively, which are not taken up; what further steps he is taking to publicise the availability of these allowances; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiNo national estimates are available of the numbers eligible for these benefits. There has, however, been a steady increase in the numbers receiving them. We are constantly seeking to improve the flow of information to disabled people who may be eligible for benefits and to those who advise them. For example, a new leaflet about cash benefits for disabled people living at home has been distributed to social workers, district nurses and health visitors. I have also set up a small working party of 207W officials and voluntary organisations to study ways of improving the leaflets and forms used by people claiming non-contributory disablement benefits. Our guide "Help for Handicapped People", which was published last year in a new and improved edition, is widely available and has been promoted by posters and television fillers.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the report brought to his attention by the hon. Member for Cannock of a husband giving up his job to look after his wife who was seriously ill with cancer and who eventually died, and who did not receive an attendance allowance; and if he will take steps to ensure that in this and similar situations an attendance allowance can be paid.
§ Mr. RossiI have already written to the hon. Member explaining that retrospective payment of the allowance is not possible in the unfortunate case to which he has referred.
I have no plans for introducing retrospective payments, but we are continuing to make efforts to produce greater public awareness of benefits.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enable attendance allowances, housewives' invalidity pension, mobility allowances and other similar benefits, to be paid retrospectively in appropriate circumstances; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiNon-contributory invalidity pension can already be paid retrospectively to a limited extent in certain circumstances, but I have no proposals for extending such rules or for applying them to the other benefits mentioned. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 15 June.—[Vol. 25, c.254.]