§ Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer of 11 December 1990 at columns37–77, if he will now review the mobility allowance provisions regarding the award of the benefit to the deaf-blind.
§ Mr. ScottI assume that the hon. Member refers to the undertaking that I gave on 13 December 1990 at column91 to analyse the way in which arrangements for deaf-blind people are working in practice and consider whether changes are necessary. This has now been done and immediate steps are being taken to overcome some problems which were discovered.
We intend to issue revised guidance to examining doctors to resolve these difficulties and plan to consult both SENSE (the National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association) and the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) to make this guidance as effective as possible. We shall continue to monitor the operation of the deaf-blind rules after these changes have been made.