§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what account is taken in receipt of the mobility component of the disability living allowance in determining the provision of assistance under the fares-to-work scheme; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 14 July 1992]: When determining grants under the assistance with fares to work—FTW—scheme, the higher and lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowance—DLA—are taken into account in the following ways. Recipients of the higher rate mobility component who are able to drive and use it to resolve their mobility problems by driving themselves do not qualify for the FTW grant. Exceptionally, where a client's car is temporarily unavailable due to servicing or breakdown, they may qualify for the grant on a temporary basis. Other instances when the FTW grant can be made available on a temporary basis to such clients are where they are learner drivers or where they are making arrangements to obtain a car through Motability or another source.
Recipients of the higher rate mobility component who are legally barred from driving or medically advised not to drive may be entitled to an FTW grant. The grant, however, would be abated by one third of the mobility component. In all cases where FTW recipients receive the lower rate mobility component, the FTW grant, if payable, is also abated by one third. These abatements carry forward, in respect of DLA, a policy which applied in respect of the mobility allowance and which was designed to avoid double funding. A number of organisations have 799W made representations arguing that the abatement should not apply, and we are considering the points they have made.