HC Deb 23 February 1998 vol 307 cc126-7W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which officials from the Benefits Agency have seen Miss A. Steed (DB502640) to assess in person the need for her to have the renewal of her motability scheme; and if she will make a statement; [30251]

  1. (2) how many officials were involved in the decision to end the motability scheme originally awarded to Miss A. Steed because of the severe disability of her young daughter (ref: DB502640); [30252]
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  2. (3)what consideration was given to the applicant's bringing up a severely disabled child in determining the application by Miss A. Steed (ref: DB502640) for a renewal of the motability scheme; [30253]
  3. (4)what factors led to the decision that Miss A. Steed (ref: DB502640) should no longer be able to lease a car under the motability scheme. [30256]

Mr. Denham

The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 19 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Miss A. Steed (DB502640). Motability is an independent body which helps recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) higher rate mobility component to use their benefit to obtain a car on the best possible terms, either on lease, or through a hire purchase agreement. It is a requirement of the Motability Scheme that a disabled person or their representative/appointee who wishes to obtain a car, must have an award of higher rate mobility component that will run throughout the period of the leasing or hire purchase agreement. I would point out that the Adjudication authorities award DLA higher rate mobility component on the basis of whether the customer satisfies the medical conditions for the benefit. This principle equally applies to the duration of an award of DLA and the adjudicating authorities are not influenced by external factors, such as the qualifying conditions for entering into a Motability agreement. As the Motability Scheme is an independent body, the Benefits Agency would not have seen Miss A. Steed to assess the renewal of the Motability Scheme or the decision to end the Motability Scheme. The Department is not directly involved in operational issues concerning the Motability Scheme. If a review is requested within three months of the Adjudication Officer's decision being notified the decision can be reviewed on any grounds. If the review request is received outside the three months period a review can only take place on limited grounds, such as the decision being erroneous in law, based on a mistake, given in ignorance of a material fact or a relevant change in circumstances. Miss A. Steed asked for a review of her daughter's entitlement in April 1997 on the grounds that she wished to enter into a further agreement with Motability. Her daughter's case was passed to another Adjudication Officer who could not find any grounds to review the previous award. I hope you find this reply helpful.