Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a vehicle access scheme specifically for people who have been diagnosed with severe autism.

The Government provides support to individuals faced with disabilities or long-term health conditions by way of the provision of Disability Benefits. The over-arching objective with mobility allowances is to enable individuals to overcome their personal barriers to mobility and independence that they face as a result of their disability. The current system allows eligible individuals to spend their allowance in whichever way they choose that best supports their individual needs. For some people this means accessing the Motability Scheme, administered by Motability Operations under contract to Motability the charity, and for others it could mean funding taxis, purchasing a vehicle or funding other support to enable them to make a journey.