§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people of retirement age receive invalidity benefit rather than the State retirement pension ; what will be the cost of providing this category with the £10 Christmas bonus ; and if it is the intention to include those of retirement age in receipt of invalidity benefit within the Christmas bonus scheme.
§ Mr. Orme:Contributory and noncontributory invalidity pensioners over pension age are among the categories of beneficiary which the £10 Christmas bonus scheme covers. If their wives are also over pension age, these pensioners will qualify for an additional £10 payment in respect of them. There are an estimated 25,000–30,000 contributory invalidity pensioners over pension age, and the cost of paying the bonus to them will therefore be of the order of £¼million. Figures for non-contributory invalidity pensioners and for the overpension-age wives of either category are not, however, available.