Allowances

Mr. Holt
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the median average period during which individual recipients are in receipt of: (a) attendance allowance and (b) mobility allowance.

Mr. Major
I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The latest available information about the periods for which attendance allowance and mobility allowance are awarded is set out in the tables.----------------------------
|Duration of awards (years)|
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|less than 1               |
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|1 and over but less than 2|
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|2 and over but less than 3|
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|3 and over but less than 4|
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|4 and over but less than 5|
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|5 and over                |
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|For life                  |
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|1                                                                                    |
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|Over 1 and up to and including 2                                                     |
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|Over 2 and up to and including 3                                                     |
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|Over 3 and up to and including 4                                                     |
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|Over 4 but not up to age 75                                                          |
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|Up to age 75                                                                         |
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|For life under the Mobility Allowance (Vehicle Scheme Beneficiaries) Regulations 1977|
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Mr. Holt
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to seek to alter present criteria governing rules for (a) attendance allowance and (b) mobility allowance.

Mr. Major
We have no plans to do so.

Mr. Meacher
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many are in receipt of (a) mobility allowance and (b) attendance allowance; how many mobility allowance and attendance allowance recipients receive supplementary benefit or are dependants of someone receiving supplementary benefit: and what is his estimate as to the proportion of such people who either recieve a higher rate heating addition for themselves or have one paid to the head of the household on their account for the latest available year.

Mr. Major
[pursuant to his reply, 4 February 1987, c. 696]: The latest available information is as follows: 1. Number of recipients (thousands)(a) Mobility allowance 466 February 1987(b) Attendance allowance 585 March 19862. Number of supplementary benefit recipients (thousands) with:(a) Mobility allowance 37 December 1984(b) Attendance allowance 154 December 19843. Percentage with supplementary benefit higher rate heating addition(a) Mobility allowance 91·7 December 1984(b) Attendance allowance 81·3 December 1984