HC Deb 03 August 1971 vol 822 cc251-2W
Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of families in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area who will qualify for Family Income Supplement; how many have so far applied; and how many applications have so far been granted.

Mr. Dean

I regret the information is not available.

Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area are now in receipt of the new sliding-scale pension for women widowed between the ages of 40 and 50 years.

Mr. Dean

Precise information is not available but it is estimated that about 650 widows are now receiving an age-related widow's pension in the area covered by the Bournemouth local office.

Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area are now in receipt of the new State pension for persons unable to join the present national insurance pensions scheme, and how many are expected to qualify when this pension is extended to other very elderly people in September, 1971.

Mr. Dean

The number of awards made under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970, to persons in the area covered by the Bournemouth local office, which includes Bournemouth and Christchurch, was approximately 2,500 and the great majority of these are still in payment. It is expected that about 600 further awards will be made under Section 5 of the National Insurance Act, 1971, to people in this area over the age of 80.