§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications there were for invalid care allowance in each of the last four years; and how many were granted.
§ Mr. RossiThe information is as follows:28W
Invalid Care Allowance Claims Year 1978 1979 1980 1981 Total 7,556 6,489 6,364 6,572 Successful 2,948 2,553 2,688 2,805
§ Mr. Mortonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of raising invalid care allowance to the equivalent of the long-term rate of supplementary benefit at 1982–83 rates.
§ Mr. RossiThe gross annual cost for existing recipients of invalid care allowance would be about £5 million. There would be some savings in other benefit payments, but there could also be some additional cost because people not now claiming might do so.