§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made with the administrative arrangements for replacing the noncontributory invalidity pension and the housewives' noncontributory invalidity pension with the new severe disablement allowance; when he expects to make the first payment of severe disablement allowance; and how many initial recipients he currently expects.
§ Mr. NewtonArrangements are in train to ensure that all those in receipt of non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension transfer automatically to severe disablement allowance. Steps are also being taken to identify those people who have underlying title to the existing benefits and, in appropriate cases, to invite claims so that their future entitlement to severe disablement allowance is ensured. It is expected that, subject to the passage of the Health and Social Security Bill, the first payment of the new benefit will be made in November. Current estimates are that initially about 230,000 people might receive severe disablement allowance.