§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many grants and how much grant was given to people aged(a) under 65 years and (b) 65 years and over from the Specialised Disability Fund in the last 12 months; and what plans he has to enable people disabled after the age of 65 years to receive money under the fund. [178460]
§ Mr. PondThere is no Specialised Disability Fund. However, the Department for Work and Pensions sponsors the Specialised Vehicles Funds and the Independent Living Funds.
The charity Motability administers the Specialised Vehicles Funds on behalf of the Department. The funds provide grants towards the cost of specially adapted vehicles for disabled people who are eligible to apply to the Motability Scheme. The information requested is in Table 1.
The two Independent Living Funds make cash payments directly to severely disabled people for the purchase of personal assistance or help with domestic duties to enable them to continue to live in the community. The Extension Fund is a closed fund. However, the 1993 Fund, which applies to all new claims made since April 1993, makes payments to people aged 65 or under at the date of claim. The information requested is in Table 2.
There are no plans to extend any of the funds beyond their current provision.
Table 1: Specialised Vehicles Funds—1 June 2003 to 31 May 2004 Number of grants Total amount of grants1(£ million) Aged under 65 years 1,075 7.6 Aged 65 years and over 75 0.4 1Rounded to the nearest £100,000.
Table 2: Independent Living Funds—1 June 2003 to 31 May 2004 Number of clients receiving grants Total amount of grants1 (£ million) Aged under 65 years 14,883 173 Aged 65 years and over2 1,585 16 1Rounded to the nearest £ million. 2 Over age 65 calculated as at date of payment.