§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending to all the disabled a disability allowance paid at the current value of the industrial injury benefits.
§ Mr. Alec JonesAny reliable estimate would need to be based on information about the incidence of various degrees of loss of faculty among the population at large; this information is not, I am afraid, available.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will 295W estimate the reducton in the number of disabled people drawing supplementary benefits if a disability allowance was introduced and the allowance paid at the value of the current industrial injury benefits.
§ Mr. Alec JonesAs the receipt of supplementary benefit does not depend on a medical assesssment of degree of disablement, the information on which to base the estimate requested by the hon. Member is not available.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many sick and disabled persons were drawing supplementary benefit at the latest available date; and if she will represent this total as a percentage of persons who are categorised as "impaired".
§ Mr. Alec JonesIn August 1974 some 266,000 people of working age who were classified by the Supplementary Benefits Commission as "sick or disabled" were receiving supplementary benefit, either by itself or in addition to some other benefit. That figure includes people in hospital or in residential care but by definition excludes anyone in employment. It is not known how many unemployed, elderly or other supplementary beneficiaries could also be regarded as "disabled". The 1968–69 survey "Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain" does not provide a suitable denominator. The survey covered only "impaired" people living at home—many doing their ordinary jobs. By no means everyone incapable of work was classified as "impaired".
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the total saving in supplementary benefit of her proposals for a weekly mobility allowance for the disabled.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIt is not expected that there will be any material saving in supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the number of disabled persons who will be eligible for the proposed weekly mobility allowance which she announced on 13th September.
296W
§ Mr. Alec JonesIt has been estimated that, apart from people receiving help under existing arrangements, something of the order of 100,000 disabled people might benefit from the allowance.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the saving in supplementary benefit of her proposed non-contributory invalidity pension.
§ Mr. Alec JonesOn the basis of the published estimates of the numbers of people who might qualify for a non-contributory invalidity pension, the supplementary benefit saving might be something over £50 million in a full year following the introduction of that pension at the rates proposed in the Social Security Benefits Bill.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is her estimate of the number of disabled persons who will be eligible for the proposed non-contributory invalidity pension announced in "Social Security Provision for Chronically Sick and Disabled People";
(2) what is her estimate of the number of married women who for reasons of disablement are unable to perform their household tasks;
(3) what is her estimate of the number of persons of working age who would be in paid employment but for the need to care for severely disabled people at home who will be eligible for the proposed invalid care allowance.
§ Mr. Alec JonesI would refer the hon. Member to the estimates contained in my right hon. Friend's report to Parliament on "Social Security Provision for Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons", House of Commons Paper 276 of 1974, in particular in paragraphs 55 and 61 of the main body of the report and paragraph 12 of the annex.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the total number of persons who are currently not eligible for invalidity pensions and allowances because they have been unable to be employed and therefore have not paid national insurance contributions, as a 297W result of disablement throughout their working age.
§ Mr. Alec JonesI would refer the hon. Member to the estimates in paragraph 55 of my right hon. Friend's report to Parliament on "Social Security Provision for Chronically Sick and Disabled People", House of Commons Paper 276 of 1974. These estimates, which are the best available, include people who have done some work but have not paid enough contributions to qualify for invalidity benefit.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons receiving an invalidity pension receive a supplementary allowance; and what percentage this represents of the total number receiving an invalidity pension.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIn November 1973, the latest date for which figures are available, some 92,000 invalidity pensioners were also receiving a supplementary allowance. This represented about 21 per cent. of all invalidity pensioners.
§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will now increase the mobility allowance to disabled persons to meet the increased cost of petrol.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWe will be bringing forward legislation in due course to provide for this allowance, but there is no change I can announce in our proposals.