21/07/08

BOURNEMOUTH WEST M.P. QUESTIONS SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT HELP FOR THE BLIND

In a debate in the House of Commons about the Government’s Green Paper on Welfare Reform on Monday 21st July, 2008, Bournemouth West M.P., Sir John Butterfill, questioned the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, about giving extra help to blind people.

He brought to the attention of the Secretary of State the predicament of a uniquely disadvantaged group of disabled people, that is the blind and those with severe visual impairments.  For some time and in conjunction with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, John has been trying to persuade the Government extend the higher rate mobility allowance for this group of people.  In the last session of Parliament, he sponsored an Early Day Motion on their behalf.  In the House on Monday, he asked the Secretary of State if the blind and visually impaired would now be able to qualify for this allowance under the Government’s new welfare reforms.

The Minister replied that the Government was not against the principle of extending the allowance to the blind and visually impaired.  However, he was not able to assure John that they would be providing the funding for it.  He merely stated that they would continue to work with the RNIB on the proposal and that he was happy to continue his discussions with John and other MPs about it.

Sir John said in a statement that he was very disappointed that the Government did not yet feel able to provide the funding for the allowance to be extended to the blind and visually impaired but that he and his colleagues were determined to keep up the pressure on their behalf.