HC Deb 18 June 1974 vol 875 c77W
7. Mr. Newton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of adults who receive State cash benefits by reason of mental and/or physical disability.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Including all benefits specifically for the sick and disabled administered by the Department of Health and Social Security, Department of Employment training allowances and Ministry of Defence disablement pensions for the inter-war years, we estimate that the number may be of the order of 2 million if no allowance is made for double counting. In fact, however, not all the benefits are mutually exclusive.