Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to change the qualifying criteria for the enhanced mobility component of personal independence payment to allow claimants with dwarfism to access specially adapted mobility vehicles.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition or disability.

Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.

We consulted extensively while developing the mobility component of the assessment, notably undertaking a second consultation exercise following feedback that the moving around activity was difficult to understand.

We carefully considered all the responses, including the suggestions for alternative approaches and the final consultation response was published on 21 October 2013.

The enhanced rate of the PIP Mobility component was always intended to be for those "unable" or "virtually unable" to walk and we believe the current assessment criteria are the best way of identifying those whose physical mobility is most limited.