I see Shawn has already done a news story on this but i think it is worth highlighting the fact that a significant concession to the Welfare Reform Bill has been introduced today following some very good work from RNIB, that will see blind people becoming entitled to DLA higher rate mobility component from April 2011.

The Tories wouldn't support the amendment because it requires a £45m spending commitment which they said they wanted Government to explain how it could be met - in the context of being alive to the fact that they may actually be required to implement the policy, this may be slightly understandable but the fact that they would not even commit to the principle of the amendment was very telling I thought.

However, it should also be pointed out that this was a Labour MP introducing the amendment, John Robertson, with much support from fellow MPs, rather than Mr Purnell and co. It took a concerted effort of campaigning but it is good to see such progress being made and so many MPs prepared to back this positive move.

Notwithstanding all the political chicanery, it is, in my opinion, very good news that ~26,000 blind people in this country will now be able to receive additional financial assistance on the grounds of mobility related needs. Good news stories are still allowed aren't they

This is most definitely good news, but in my opinion doesn't go far enough, and I don't think we should all get too excited. If any of you listened to 'In Touch' on Radio 4, on Tuesday 17 March you will know that this measure is intended only for those with the most severe sight impairment. In their press release (follow the link from Shawn's News article) the DWP uses the term 'severely blind people'.

According to the RNIB there are around two million people in the UK with a sight problem which means they are unable to recognise someone across the road or have difficulty reading newsprint, even when wearing spectacles. More than 370,000 people are registered as blind or partially sighted, and there are an estimated 18,500 more with visual loss who might be eligible for registration but haven't registered.

The number who will qualify for HRMC is only a fraction of those with significant sight loss.

Sorry, should read: ... estimated 74,000 more with visual loss who ... haven't registered.

Shawn: have you considered increasing the time allowed for editing?

just for you ruth ... duly upped !!

Certainly good news but ...

35,565 people under 65 registered blind as of 2003 (75%+ of registered blind people were aged 65+). DWP press release says 20,000 will benefit so presumably they are looking at a more restrictive criterion than that for registration.Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Also, since they could have done this at any time since 1997, it looks very like a sweetener for the nasty bits in the Welfare Reform Bill.

Still, we'll take it ...

Richard Atkinson