§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the eligibility criteria of mobility allowance to other groups whose mobility problems do not arise from a physical inability to walk.
§ Mr. ScottWe shall announce proposals to improve the balance and structure of social security provision for people who are disabled within the next few months.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria will be used to determine who is deaf-blind for the purpose of mobility allowance.
§ Mr. ScottThe extension of mobility allowance to people who are deaf-blind will be introduced through regulations which will prescribe the circumstances in which they will be treated as being unable or virtually unable to walk for the purpose of section 37A of the Social Security Act 1975. The detail of the new eligibility criteria is still under consideration.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people benefited from mobility allowance in 1979–80 and in 1988–89; and what are the values of mobility allowance in three years at current prices.
§ Mr. ScottThe information requested is:
1979–80 1988–89 Estimated average number of recipients at any one time 140,000 530,000 Value of new rate of mobility allowance introduced during year, at current prices £23.40 £25.60