§ Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the overall amount paid by his Department in the last year to self-employed people for sickness benefit and pensions.
§ Mr. OrmeRetirement and widows' pensions are based on contributions paid during a contributor's working life without reference as to how many, if any, of the contributions were paid as a self-employed earner. It is not possible therefore to identify pensioners who were, or whose deceased husbands were, self-employed.
Entitlement to sickness benefit and invalidity pension is based on contributions paid in the relevant tax year preceding the onset of incapacity and it is estimated that in the financial year 1976–77—the last year for which figures are available—sickness benefit amounting to £15 million and invalidity benefit amounting to £20 million was paid to persons whose contribution records during the relevant tax year derived wholly or mainly from self-employment.