"Family Benefits and Pensions"

HC Deb 07 December 1971 vol 827 cc273-5W

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements

centres in England, and for Scotland and Wales, and a further breakdown of the Scottish figures based on decisions by medical practitioners at Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Sir K. Joseph

At 28th September some 61,000 claims had been received, 12,300 applicants had initially failed to satisfy the medical conditions, nearly 3,200 had applied for a review, and nine of those dealt with had failed to satisfy the conditions at the review stage. The corresponding figures for 30th November, the latest date for which figures are available, are 104,000, 26,700, 7,400, and 850, respectively. A breakdown for Scotland and Wales and for each of the 10 regional centres can only be given in respect of the numbers of claims received and the number of applicants who initially failed to satisfy the medical conditions. The figures are as follows:

he has made to ensure that the booklet, "Family Benefits and Pensions", issued by his Department in October, 1971, reaches social workers, citizens advice bureaux, voluntary organisations, trade unions and professional and other people who come into contact with those who are likely to be eligible for the benefits and pensions it describes.

Mr. Dean

The booklet has been distributed by direct mail to the clergy and women's organisations; through executive councils to doctors, dentists, opticians and pharmacists; in bulk to the National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Council, local authority health and social services departments, British Association of Social Workers and a wide range of voluntary social organisations. Over 400,000 copies have so far been distributed.