§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what promotional activities she plans to make known the availability of the new invalidity pension, in view of the fact that only about half of those eligible make claims.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy hon. Friend will appreciate, from my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 22nd January—[Vol. 903, c.556–7]—that the major reason for the shortfall in the numbers who claimed the new non-contributory invalidity pension (NCIP) in November, as compared with our initial tentative estimates, was that about half of those receiving supplementary benefit chose to remain on that benefit rather than to 108W switch to a combination of NCIP and supplementary benefit. As I also explained, estimates based on 1968–69 survey data suggested that there might have been up to about 7,000 other potential recipients of NCIP who failed to make a claim in November. The continuing help of hon. Members, professional workers and the voluntary organisations who are in close touch with disabled people, seems likely to prove more effective than a repetition of paid advertising in reaching those who have still not claimed the new benefit.