§ Mr. Priorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled housewives are now receiving the new non-contributory disability pension; and how many of these receive no other pension.
23W
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI have taken it that the right hon. Gentleman's Question refers to the number of married women receiving the non-contributory invalidity pension (NCIP). Up to 10th February 1978 about 34,000 awards of this benefit had been made. As NC1P is a "maintenance" benefit it cannot, in general, be paid in addition to any other "maintenance" benefit which a woman may already have. The vast majority of women who have been awarded NCIP are unlikely, therefore, to be receiving any other personal "maintenance" benefit.