HC Deb 18 July 1978 vol 954 cc195-6W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked 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.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The 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