asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an assurance that the Government will increase mobility allowance for disabled drivers who do not pay for a vehicle licence if they go ahead with the proposal to abolish vehicle licences and increase the price of petrol.

It is too early at this stage to say whether it would be appropriate to make some specific adjustment to this benefit to take account of any increased petrol duty which might follow a decision to abolish vehicle excise. This would depend very much on what happened by way of overall changes in the provision of mobility help for disabled people before abolition, but the Government would certainly give the matter careful consideration at the relevant time.