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Barry Sheerman recently visited the Leonard Cheshire Care Home in Huddersfield to meet residents and discuss the importance of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowances.

Alongside other home residents, Barry agreed that the mobility component provides an essential service, enabling disabled people to retain their independence.

The cuts to DLA will impact up to 80,000 disabled people, with many left unable to afford basic personal expenses or mobility allowances. Barry believes the DLA fund cuts proposed by the Government will simply transfer costs to already stretched local authorities or leave people without this vital support. Through meeting additional mobility costs and placing control in the hands of the individual, the DLA mobility component helps disabled people retain their independence and must be maintained by the government.

Barry further supports Respite Care services, which also face cuts from the government. The services are essential to ensuring disabled people have the information and care they need to remain independent.

Barry spoke in support of DLA and the work of the Leonard Cheshire Care Home in a debate on the Welfare Reform Bill on Wednesday:

"After visiting a residential home in Edgerton in my constituency only last week, I am aware this Bill will destroy the lives of most of those people, 60% of whom are in wheelchairs."

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Duncan Smith, responded that the Government is reviewing how the mobility component of the DLA will be provided under the new Bill. Barry hopes the Government will ensure the DLA mobility component is maintained for those living in residential care homes.