§ 36. Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the mobility allowance scheme is dealing adequately with all those who need this assistance.
§ Mr. NewtonAs the hon. Member is aware, the scheme primarily covers those between the ages of 5 and 65 who fulfil the appropriate criteria (though it may be claimed up to age 66 by those who show they fulfilled the criteria by age 65). The present Government have increased the real value of the allowance by some 10 per cent., from £10 per week to £19 a week, and have made it tax free. The number of beneficiaries has risen from 253,000 at the beginning of 1983 to 316,000 currently, and we are satisfied that the scheme fulfils its original intention of assisting them with their mobility needs.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what his estimate is of the number of decisions of insurance officers, medical boards and medical appeal tribunals to withdraw mobility allowance from claimants who had appealed against the length of their award which should be set aside as nullities following Commissioner's decision R(M)2/82 that there was no right to appeal against a favourable decision; what action his Department has taken to ensure that awards unlawfully withdrawn are restored to claimants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonIt is not possible to estimate the number of decisions of insurance officers, medical boards and medical appeal tribunals which might have been set aside in the light of R(M)2/82. Current claims affected were readily identifiable and appropriate action was taken, but it was found to be administratively impractical to identify past cases. As the right hon. Member will appreciate, to have nullified appeal decisions would not necessarily have resulted in an outcome favourable to claimants: in some cases benefit would have been reinstated, but where a medical board or medical appeal tribunal had extended the period of an award, the original shorter award would have stood. In August 1983 we introduced regulations giving a right of appeal against the insurance/adjudication officer's decision on length of award.