§ Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women are receiving invalid care allowance; how many of them receive supplementary benefit in addition; and what would be the estimated annual cost of raising the invalid care allowance to unemployed benefit level.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAt the end of February 1979, the latest date for which figures are available, some 6,100 people were receiving invalid care allowance, of whom it is estimated that 1,700 were spinsters. I regret that, of the remaining 4,400, separate figures for the number of men and women are not available. I am, however, arranging for the information to be obtained and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
On the basis of the latest information available to me, it is estimated that about one-third of the people now receiving ICA are also receiving supplementary benefit.
The gross cost of raising the ICA rate to that of unemployment benefit would be £1½ million a year. This includes analogous increases for adult dependants and the continued payment of increases for children at the long-term benefit rate. If the likely consequent savings of supplementary benefit are taken into account, it is estimated that the net cost would be about £1 million a year.