§ Mr. Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services for the latest available date, and for each year since 1965, how many persons under pensionable age had been drawing supplementary 245W benefit for six months or more, or less than six months, and were sick or disabled; and how many, respectively, were receiving exceptional circumstances additions
NUMBER OF SICK AND DISABLED UNDER PENSION AGE IN RECEIPT OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT {Thousands) For less than 6 months For 6 months or more Receiving ECA Received ENP in previous 12 months or since date of claim if later 1966 … … … Not available 1967 … … … 51 258 82 Not available 1968 … … … 58 265 73 Not available 1969 … … … 67 258 68 Not available 1970 … … … 68 254 65 Not available 1971 … … … 57 248 59 Not available In receipt of supplementary benefit For less than 6 months 6 months or more 1972 … … … 54 244 60 6 47 1973 … … … 50 229 71 6 51 1974 … … … 49 211 70 51* * Breakdown not yet available. Notes: 1. Information based on sample inquiries held in November each year. 2. No inquiry held in 1966. 3. In 1967 and 1968 the sample was 1 in 80. 4. From 1969–74 the sample was 1 in 40.
§ Mr. Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled, how many non-disabled retirement pensioners and how many other old people drawing supplementary allowances were drawing exceptional circumstances additions, and had received exceptional needs payments in the previous 12 months.
Total With ECA* Received ENP in previous 12 months Retirement Pensioners (including widows over 60 with NI Widows Pension) 1,712,000 738,000 90,000 Others (over pensionable age) 96,000 31,000 5,000 * These figures do not include those cases where a special need had been identified but which was covered by the available scale margin for special expenses in the long-term and higher long-term scale rates (50p and 75p respectively).