§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the number of claimants of mobility allowance who will reach the age of 75 years in November 1989;
(2) if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the upper age limit on entitlement to mobility allowance.
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§ Mr. ScottRecipients of mobility allowance, except those who have transferred from the former invalid vehicle scheme and who are not subject to this age limit, will not reach age 75 before 29 November 1989. Few will thus reach that age in November 1989 but the number who have reached age 75 will grow progressively after that date. It is estimated that about 500 recipients would benefit from the abolition of the age limit in the first year at a cost of under £500,000. This would rise to over 6,000 recipients, at a cost of around £8 million in 1991–2, with the numbers continuing to rise in subsequent years.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to increase the upper age limit of 75 years on entitlement to mobility allowance.
§ Mr. ScottI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 10 May at column82.