§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for non-contributory invalidity pension have been made by disabled housewives since the benefit was introduced; how many awards of pension have been made; how many of the unsuccessful applicants have appealed; how many of the appeals have been successful; and if he will break down each of the figures into regions and localities so far as possible.
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§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe information requested is as follows:
Cumulative Totals from 17th November 1977 to 7th July 1978 Number of claims 63,000 Number of awards 42,000 Number of appeals to a local tribunal against disallowance of the benefit* 5,000 Number of appeals to a local tribunal which have succeeded 1,500 * Of which 1,600 have yet to be heard. I regret that information is not readily available to provide a breakdown of each of these figures into regions or localities and that it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, during the "take-on" period for the benefit, a record was kept of the cumulative number of claims in each social security region, and that information is as follows:
Cumulative Number of Claims during the period 17th November 1977 to 14th March 1978. Northern 4,124 Yorkshire and Humberside 6,004 East Midlands and East Anglia 5,004 London North 4,566 London South 4,733 London West 3,952 South Western 3,838 Wales 5,095 West Midlands 5,142 North West (Manchester) 4,519 North West (Merseyside) 4,126 Scotland, 5,133