Blind People March on Parliament

12.00.00am GMT Fri 8th Dec 2006

Sandra Gidley MP today met local people taking part in the biggest ever lobby of Parliament by blind people as 500 visually impaired people from across the UK came to Westminster to meet their MPs. The action is in support of a campaign for blind people to be able to claim the same level of mobility benefits as physically disabled people, such as wheelchair users.

The campaign, led by organisations including the Royal National Institute of the Blind (1), is calling for people with serious sight loss to be eligible to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, a benefit for disabled people that helps with extra transport costs.

Worth £43.45 per week, campaigners say that the higher rate of the benefit should be available to blind people who, despite experiencing major barriers to getting out and about, are only eligible to claim the lower rate of just £16.50 per week.

Sandra who is the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual impairment said, "I have listened to local blind people today talking about the huge difference that this extra money would make to them in terms of being able to get out and about by taxi, to meet friends and family, go shopping and enjoy leisure time. This is something that everyone should have the ability to do, and I support the campaign for access to the higher mobility component."

Steve Winyard, RNIB's Head of Campaigns, said: "It's not surprising that blind people, who can't drive and often find public transport impossible to navigate, feel cheated by not being allowed to claim the same level of benefit as other disabled people. Many have become virtual prisoners in their own homes because the low level of benefit they receive doesn't cover the cost of taxis."

He continued saying "RNIB is delighted that over 140 MPs of all parties have expressed their support for the campaign in Parliament by signing a Commons motion calling on the government to review blind people's benefit entitlements (2)."

RNIB's 'Taken for a Ride' report estimates the cost of giving blind people access to the extra mobility money would be just £61 million per year, or less than 0.05 per cent of the Government's social security budget.

• ends -

Notes to Editors:

1. RNIB, together with the National Federation of the Blind, National League of the Blind and Disabled, Action for Blind People, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People (NALSVI), is calling for an amendment to Section 73(3) of the 1992 Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act such that people who are under 65 and have serious sight loss are able to claim the higher rate mobility component of DLA.

2. 144 MPs have signed Early Day Motion 46 'Mobility for Blind People', tabled by Sir John Butterfill MP.