(2) how many claims there were from (a) children and (b) adults with autism spectrum disorders for disability living allowance in each of the last five years; and what proportion these constituted of all claims for that allowance;
(3) how many claims there were for disability living allowance on behalf of (a) children and (b) adults with Asperger’s syndrome in each of the last five years.
[holding answer 4 December 2007]: The information is not available.
Entitlement to disability living allowance is not linked to particular disabling conditions, but on the extent to which a severely disabled person has personal care needs and/or walking difficulties as a result of their disability. Parents can claim disability living allowance for children, including those with autism spectrum disorder, as long as their disability meets the aforementioned criteria.
[holding answer 21 July 2008]: We have been in long-term discussions with the Royal National Institute of Blind People and others on whether there is scope to extend the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance to people with severe visual impairments. While we understand the force of the arguments put forward by the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and are sympathetic to their aims, including providing greater financial assistance to allow visually impaired people to return to or remain in work, we cannot, at this time, commit to amending the existing arrangements for the mobility component of disability living allowance.
The Green Paper, "No One Written Off: Reforming Welfare to Reward Responsibility" Cm 7363, published on 21 July, sets out our strategy to help greater numbers of sick and disabled people who want to work, fulfil their aspirations. Part of this strategy is the proposal to increase the Access to Work budget to help greater numbers of disabled people return to, and remain in, work. Currently, around one in four customers of Access to Work are people with a visual impairment.