HC Deb 16 May 1986 vol 97 cc584-5W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the number of applications for mobility allowance in each quarter of the last five years; and if he will give a percentage that are successful for each quarter;

(2) how many people applied for mobility allowance; and what percentage were successful in each quarter for the last five years.

Mr. Newton

I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people have had their mobility allowance withdrawn in each month since the House of Lords decision on a test case one year ago;

(2) if he will categorise the reasons for which mobility allowance has been withdrawn during the last year.

Mr. Newton

Mobility allowance is withdrawn only where the independent adjudicating authorities have reviewed their original decision to award the allowance and are satisfied that the decision was made in ignorance of, or was based on a mistake as to, a material fact; or that there has been a relevant change of the recipient's circumstances since the decision was given. The number of cases where a review has led to the withdrawal or a reduction in the period of an award of mobility allowance, since April 1985, is as follows. It is not possible to analyse these figures by reference to the reason for withdrawal.

Number
1985
April 16
May 29
June 18
July 14
August 11
September 15
October 21
November 22
December 12
1986
January 19

Number
February 18
March 15
April 26

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people currently being paid mobility allowance suffer from (a) deaf-blindness, (b) autism,(c) spasticity and (d) mental handicap;

(2) how many people are currently receiving mobility allowance; and if he will categorise them according to their disability.

Mr. Newton

The information as at 9 May is as follows. The analysis is not available in greater detail.

Number
Neoplasms 8,332
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases 2,919
Diseases of blood and blood forming organs 979
Diseases of the central nervous system 126,258
Diseases of the circulatory system 56,994
Diseases of the respiratory system 38,663
Diseases of bones and organs of movement 130,426
Congenital malformations 14,180
Amputations 7,259
Diseases of digestive systems, genito-urinary system; skin and cellular tissue 12,184
Total 398,194

In addition, there are 25,549 recipients who were formerly beneficiaries of the invalid vehicle scheme but the nature of their disability is not recorded.

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