Comments on: John Redwood welcomes u-turn on mobility benefit for blind people http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/21/john-redwood-welcomes-u-turn-on-mobility-benefit-for-blind-people/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Basil Brown http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/21/john-redwood-welcomes-u-turn-on-mobility-benefit-for-blind-people/#comment-14691 Basil Brown Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:56:58 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3460#comment-14691 A very welcome development. Good to see an example of well-targeted spending that will make a real difference to people with genuine extra needs. A very welcome development. Good to see an example of well-targeted spending that will make a real difference to people with genuine extra needs.

]]> By: mikestallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/21/john-redwood-welcomes-u-turn-on-mobility-benefit-for-blind-people/#comment-14690 mikestallard Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:59:59 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3460#comment-14690 I would rather be anything but blind - even dying of cancer. So, any help for them, yes! And cancel something else. I would rather be anything but blind – even dying of cancer. So, any help for them, yes! And cancel something else.

]]> By: Shaun Pilkington http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/21/john-redwood-welcomes-u-turn-on-mobility-benefit-for-blind-people/#comment-14689 Shaun Pilkington Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:51:24 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3460#comment-14689 As an MS patient and someone who gets the Higher Rate Mobility component (mercifully I don't need the care component yet!), I must point out that the very nature of this award is such that it will, by definition, end up being spent in the wider economy. While there's evidence that tax cuts or interest rate cuts simply encourage people to cut down their debts or to save and therefore provide no economic stimulus, giving money to people who HAVE to spend it on services necessarily tied to their local community (taxis, other transport or services) makes both humanitarian and economic sense. As for the general point about the blind having not been eligible? Well lets just say that I'm glad that nonsense is over! As an MS patient and someone who gets the Higher Rate Mobility component (mercifully I don’t need the care component yet!), I must point out that the very nature of this award is such that it will, by definition, end up being spent in the wider economy.

While there’s evidence that tax cuts or interest rate cuts simply encourage people to cut down their debts or to save and therefore provide no economic stimulus, giving money to people who HAVE to spend it on services necessarily tied to their local community (taxis, other transport or services) makes both humanitarian and economic sense.

As for the general point about the blind having not been eligible? Well lets just say that I’m glad that nonsense is over!

]]>