§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of people in receipt of invalidity allowance at each of the various levels of payment, and the cost in each case; and if he will estimate how these numbers and costs would be affected if invalidity allowance were extended in relevant cases to those in receipt of non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th February 1978; Vol. 944, c. 489], gave the following information:
The estimated numbers and costs are as follows:
47W
48W
Rate of invalidity allowance Age at onset of incapacity Estimated numbers* Estimated cost of numbers in column 3 Estimated additional numbers if allowance extended to recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension for men and single women Estimated additional gross cost and of numbers in column 5 Estimated additional numbers if allowance extended to recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension for married women Estimated additional gross cost of numbers in column 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 £ million £ million £ million £3.70 … … Under 35 83,000 16 70,000† 13.5 45,000† 9 £2.30 … … 35 or over but under 45 82,000 10 — — — — £1.15 … … 45 or over but under 60 (55 for women 235,000 14 — — — — * As at June 1976, the latest date for which figures are available. † On the assumption that all beneficiaries were under 35 at the start of their incapacity.