§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the case of the late Mr. Ken Vince about whose claim for mobility allowance the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe wrote to the chief executive of the Benefits Agency on 20 July and who died two months before the chief executive replied to the right hon. Member on 4 November.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of mobility allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the right hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Alfred Morris, dated 18 November 1992:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Mobility Allowance Claim of the late Mr Ken Vince.
371WI am now in a position to confirm that a decision has been made on the late Mr Vince's claim and this has been notified direct to his next of kin. I have replied to you separately in greater detail about this.
Clearly, your constituent's claim was not handled as efficiently as it should have been. I offer my sincere apologies to Mr. Vince's family for the distress this must have caused and also for the delay in replying to your correspondence. You will be aware of the problems the Benefits Agency has faced since the introduction of Disability Living Allowance in April and the effects this has had on outstanding Mobility Allowance and Attendance Allowance claims. My letter of 19 October to all Members set out the measures we have taken to resolve these problems successfully.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Office Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.