PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE

Early day motion 280, tabled 22 October 2001 by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 46 members.

That this House notes with concern that the Government has announced proposed changes to the disability living allowance regulations during the summer recess when they receive little or no attention and that honourable Members will not have an opportunity to vote on them; notes that the Government claims that these changes are simply a clarification of a complex system; is concerned however that the new proposed rules to the lower rate mobility, which is paid to people who can walk but who are unable to walk outdoors in unfamiliar places unless they have someone with them, will be changed to exclude cases where this occurs due to fear and anxiety unless it is a symptom of mental disability; is concerned that the new rule means that the often severe psychological effects of physical impairments must in future be ignored for the purposes of lower rate mobility; notes that this will affect people with conditions which affect continence, people who are profoundly deaf and are too anxious to go outdoors alone, and people who have serious heart conditions and fear going outside in case they have a heart attack with no one at hand who is aware of their condition; and calls on the Government to ensure that a debate is held in the House to discuss these changes and that honourable Members should have the right to vote on them.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 21, Labour 13, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 4, UUP 3, DUP 1.