§ Mr. Tom Benyonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many invalidity pensioners would benefit if a year's receipt of incapacity benefits conferred entitlement to the long-term rate of supplementary benefit; what would be: (a) the benefit costs and (b) the administrative costs of such an extension of entitlement; and what are the equivalent figures for: (i) persons over 18 years in receipt of a non-contributory invalidity pension and (ii) persons in receipt of a widow's benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAt current levels of take-up and benefit rates, an estimated 70,000 at an annual benefit cost of £15 million. I gave these figures in my previous reply to my hon. Friend on 10 March—[Vol. 1000, c.290–291]—and should point out that they were based on one year for all incapacity benefits, and not on invalidity pension or supplementary benefit alone. It is estimated that the administrative costs of dealing with the increased level of claims would be about 250 staff in the first year, and about 150 staff in subsequent years.
I regret that information on the last part of my hon. Friend's question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.