§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the charges being levied on attendance allowance for local authority services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottNo restrictions are placed upon the uses to which attendance allowance may be put once it is in 355W payment. Where extra costs are incurred because of a person's disability the allowance is intended to be available to help meet them.
Local authorities have discretionary powers to charge for domiciliary and day care services. If charges are made authorities must take into account what it is reasonably practicable for an individual to pay. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health proposes to issue guidance to authorities about the use of these powers. We would not expect local authorities to make charges which undermine the purpose of attendance allowance, and after April 1992 disability living allowance.