4/12/07

RECEPTION FOR RNIB AT HOUSE OF COMMONS

Bournemouth West M.P., Sir John Butterfill, hosted a reception in the House of Commons on Tuesday 4th December, 2007, for the RNIB to give greater publicity to the lack of benefit paid to the blind and partially sighted.

Blind people are currently denied the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, a benefit which is paid to help disabled people with their extra costs with transport. 

At the reception John said:  “It seems fundamentally wrong to me that blind people who can’t drive can only receive the lower rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance paid at £17.10 a week.  Wheelchair users, who can drive, receive the higher rate of the benefit - £45 per week, which is over £27 more than a blind person.  This situation is putting blind people’s safety at risk, as well as denying them social, leisure and educational opportunities that most of us take for granted.  I support the organisations pressing the Government for action on this important area and have been pleased to lead the campaign for change in Parliament.”

Head of Campaigns at the RNIB, Steve Winyard, said in response: “We are extremely grateful for Sir John’s support for the changes we are campaigning for.  He has been a great champion for blind people in Parliament.  With such extensive support from him, other MPs and the general public, we believe that the Government must deliver a positive outcome.  The cost could be as little as £30 million a year – a very small price to deliver independence for thousands of blind people across the country.

At the reception, the Minister for the Disabled (Anne McGuire MP) was presented by Sir John and David Blunkett MP with a compilation of audio diaries recorded by blind people, highlighting the exclusion they face through not being able to claim the higher benefit rate.

The reception was exactly one year to the day since the biggest lobby of Parliament by blind and partially sighted people took place calling on the Government to end the unfairness that excludes them from the higher benefit rate.

 

John is pictured with Anne McGuire and David Blunkett, together with Maria Kipulski (registered blind) at the reception.