§ Lord Bleaseasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total number or the best estimate of housewives in Northern Ireland who are so disabled that they are incapable of undertaking paid employment and of performing normal household duties;
Whether they will state the number of applicants in Northern Ireland for the non-contributory invalidity pension for married women during the years 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981; and the number refused benefit at first application because they did not meet the "household duties" test; also the number receiving benefit following an appeal in each of the years mentioned above; and
Whether they will state the number of married women in Northern Ireland in receipt of the noncontributory invalidity pension, on the latest available date.
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (The Earl of Gowrie)Information on the number of house-wives in Northern Ireland who are so disabled that they cannot undertake employment or perform household duties is not available. In 1981 there were 660 applications from married women (including a woman living with a man as his wife) for non-contributory invalidity pensions. At 31st January 1982, 2,417 women were in receipt of this type of pension. Information for 1977 to 1980 is not available.
It is not possible to distinguish those refused benefit because of the "housewives duties" test on first application from those refused on further application. The numbers of claims disallowed benefit on the grounds in question, and those successful on appeal in each of the years, are as follows:-
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 No. disallowed * 179 229 155 137 No. of successful appeals * * * * 12 *not available.