§ Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which social security benefits are not liable to tax; what was 835W the total paid out on each for 1974–75 and to the most recent convenient date; and what was the average paid in the same period to recipients of such benefits.
Benefit 1974–75 (£ million) Great Britain 1975–76 (1st half) (£ million) Sickness benefit … … … … … … 357 196 Invalidity benefit … … … … … 320 209 Unemployment benefit … … … … 214 190 Maternity benefit … … … … … 47 23 Death grant … … … … … … 14 7 Injury benefit … … … … … … 35 18 Industrial disablement benefit … … … 110 65 Industrial death benefit (gratuities only) … … — — Workmen's compensation supplementation … … 2 1 Industrial diseases benefit in respect of pre-1948 employment … … … … … … 1 1 War disablement pension … … … … 133 85 War widow's allowances for children … … 2 1 Supplementary benefit … … … … … 843 564 Family income supplement … … … … 12 6 Attendance allowance … … … … … 62 45 Lump sum payments to pensioners … … … 92 — Sufficient information as to the numbers of beneficiaries in these periods in order to calculate the average payment per beneficiary is not yet available.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied that the time limits set for applications for national insurance benefits are sufficient for applicants to inform themselves of their entitlements.
§ Mr. O'MalleyYes. The time limits, which have been considered by the National Insurance Advisory Committee on a number of occasions, can be extended where good cause for delay in claiming is shown. If the hon. Member has any particular difficulty in mind, no doubt he will let me know.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Set-vices what is the proportion of the gross national product distributed in the form of social security benefits during each month of 1975 for which figures are available.
§ Mr. O'MalleyEstimates of the gross national product are not available on a monthly basis. As a proportion of the gross national product the cost of social security benefits was 8.24 per cent. in the first quarter of 1975 and 9.59 per cent. in the second quarter. Social security
836W
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe benefits which are not liable to tax, their cost in 1974–75 and provisional estimates of their cost in the first half of 1975–76 are as follows:
benefits, including family allowances, were unrated in April 1975.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the total number of persons who received social security benefits during the last 12 months for which figures are available.
§ Mr. O'MalleyInformation is not available in the form requested. The total number of benefits and allowances including national insurance and industrial injuries benefits, supplementary benefit, war pensions, family income supplement and family allowances, which on average, were being paid in any week was 18 million in 1974. Since many people receive more than one payment, the total number of beneficiaries is much less than the total number of benefits and allowances. I will write to the hon. Member if it should prove possible to estimate this overlap on the basis of the Family Expenditure Survey.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the operation of the appeal procedures for National Insurance Benefits as set out in the Social Security Act 1975.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI have no evidence to suggest that the appeal procedures under the Social Security Act 1975 are not operating satisfactorily.