HC Deb 06 December 1990 vol 182 cc195-6W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the cost of the reduction of the five-year age limit for the mobility component of disability living allowance to(a) three years and (b) two years; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is his estimate of the cost of abolition of the five-year age limit for the mobility component of disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The number of potential beneficiaries from a reduction in the lower age limit for the mobility component cannot be predicted with any great degree of certainty. Our best estimate, however, based on analyses of the OPCS disability surveys is that the abolition of the age limit would cost about £35 million a year; a reduction in the age limit to three years would cost about £25 million and a reduction to two years about £30 million.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of reduction of the three-month waiting period for disability living allowance to(a) two months and (b) one month; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The costs would be(a) about £35 million a year and (b) about £65 million a year.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of abolition of the three-month waiting period for disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The cost would be about £100 million a year.