Old Tyres, Disability Benefits
The government accepts a critical report into disability benefits. Plus the tyres that have plenty of tread but are too old to be safe.
The mother of a teenager, killed in a road accident which was caused by an old tyre, is calling for a ban on coach tyres that are more than ten years old. It's perfectly legal to sell and use tyres that are very old, provided they still have enough tread. Eighteen-year-old Michael Molloy was one of three people who died when their coach veered off the road and hit a tree. A tyre, which was nearly twenty years old, had exploded. His mother, Frances Molloy, has gained wide support for her campaign for a ban on older tyres on commercial vehicles.
The government has accepted the findings of a critical report into how disability benefits are paid. Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, should be paid according to a person's overall level of need. But the way people's needs are assessed has been widely criticised. Earlier this year, a second independent review highlighted that many people did not trust the process. This week ministers promised to take action, but their commitments have already been dismissed by some commentators. We ask what changes can be expected.
Producer: Jonathan Hallewell
Presenter: Winifred Robinson.