§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed recipients of supplementary benefits have been called in for interview by unemployment review officers in each of the years 1970 to 1975; how many stopped drawing benefit either before their interview or shortly afterwards; and what was the estimated cost of arranging such interviews as compared with the consequent saving of public funds.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFollowing is the available information:
1970 … … … … 613,925 (a)1971 … … … … 541,345 1972 … … … … 647,255 1973 … … … … 611,621 1974 … … … … 654,129 (b)1975 … … … … 511,647 (a) The postal dispute reduced the number of references. (b) References up to 1st October 1975—latest available date.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimaints for sickness benefit were referred for examination by the regional medical officer by their own certifying doctor in the years 1970 to 1975.
§ Mr. MeacherSeparate figures relating to sickness benefit claimants are not available; and the following table gives the total number of requests made by doctors to the regional medical services in England, Scotland and Wales for a second 183W opinion in connection with claims to benefit in the years 1970 to 1974, and in the first nine months of 1975:
1970 … … … 5,966 (a) 1971 … … … 4,559 1972 … … … 7,131 1973 … … … 6,400 1974 … … … 5,627 (b) 1975 … … … 3,605 (a) The postal dispute is likely to have reduced the number of requests. (b) Figures for 1975 are for the period up to 1st October 1975—latest available date.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the saving to the National Insurance Fund of raising to four days, five days and six days, respectively, the period before which a person may be eligible for sickness benefit.
§ Mr. O'MalleyAbout £14 million, £28 million and £41 million a year, respectively.