Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of abolition of attendance allowance on people living in rural communities.

Later this year, the Government will consult on giving more responsibility to support older people with care needs to Local Authorities in England and to Wales, including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance. Work is progressing across government towards this consultation; as part of this process the Government will engage with a wide variety of stakeholders, including claimants and their representatives, to understand the implications of change across a number of issues.