§ 18. Dame Elaine Kellett-BowmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what improvements have been made to attendance allowance and mobility allowance in the last two years.
§ Mr. ScottWe have made a number of significant improvements: in 1990 we extended attendance allowance to the under-twos and gave automatic and immediate entitlement to the higher rate for people who are terminally ill. These measures have brought help to over 80,000 people to date at an annual cost of over £40 million. We also ensured entitlement to mobility allowance for people who are both deaf and blind and for people without both legs. From April 1992 disability living allowance will bring further important improvements to the help currently available.
§ 25. Dame Jill KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made to attendance allowance and mobility allowance in the last two years.
§ Mr. ScottWe have made a number of significant improvements: for attendance allowance, in 1990 we extended entitlement to the under twos and, for people who are terminally ill, we made entitlement to the higher rate automatic and abolished the six-month qualifying period. In the same year we made regulations to ensure entitlement to mobility allowance for people who are both deaf and blind, and in 1991 we made entitlement automatic for people without both legs. From April 1992, disability living allowance will replace and extend the help currently available through attendance allowance for people disabled before age 65 and mobility allowance. Attendance allowance will remain for people whose disabilities start after that age.