§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of recipients of 243W attendance allowance (a) at the lower rate and (b) at the higher rate at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ScottThe information requested is set out in the table.
Attendance allowance: Numbers of recipients at 31 March 1986 Number Higher rate 237,000 Lower rate 348,000
§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated net annual cost of providing(a) attendance allowance in respect of children below the age of two years who are otherwise eligible but at present are excluded by reason of their age, and (b) mobility allowance in respect of children below the age of five years under the same criteria.
§ Mr. Scott[holding answer 30 November 1987]: If the proportions of children who would qualify for attendance allowance below age two and for mobility allowance below age five were similar to the proportions of children currently eligible, the costs in a full year would be about £17 million and £8 million, respectively. These figures must, however, be treated with caution because they do not exclude the unquantifiable number of impaired infants who might be ineligible because their need for attention or inability to walk is no greater than that normally to be found in a child of that age.