§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no application forms for housewives non-contributory invalidity pension (NI 214) are available from Department of Health and Social Security headquarters at Stanmore; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. RossiNI 214 was temporarily unavailable from the DHSS leaflets unit at Stanmore owing to a considerable increase in demand this year. It is now available once again. During the period it was out of stock at Stanmore it would have continued to be generally available from local social security offices.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for the latest available date and each of the past five years and for each social security area in Great Britain the numbers and percentages of (a) claims, (b) appeals and (c) successful appeals for housewives non-contributory invalidity pension.
§ Mr. RossiThe latest available information is as follows. Separate figures for social security regions are not available.
Housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension—Great Britain Year New/renewal claims considered by insurance officer Favourable Unfavourable Per cent. Per cent. 1977* — — — 1978 13,695 8,339(60.8) 5,356(29.2) 1979 13,855 7,318(52.8) 6,537(47.2) 1980 13,689 6,951(50.7) 6,738(49.3) 1981 12,383 7,121(57.5) 5,262(42.5) Note:
*Because of the special administrative arrangements that were made when the benefit was first introduced in November 1977 figures are riot readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Year Appeals considered by local tribunal Decided in favour of appellant Unfavourable Per cent. Per cent. 1977 89 37(41.5) 52(58.5) 1978 4,724 2,286(48.3) 2,438(51.7) 1979 1,911 767(40.2) 1,144(59.8) 1980 1,858 777(41.8) 1081(58.2) 1981 1,509 595(39.4) 914(60.6)
Year Appeals considered by social security commissioners Decided in favour of appellant Unfavourable Per cent. Per cent. 1977 — — — 1978 74 43(58.2) 31(25.4) 1979 382 285(74.6) 97(41.8) 1980 183 43(23.5) 140(76.6) 1981 219 64(29.2) 155(70.3)
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has not reached a decision on the recommendation of the national insurance advisory committee, published in July 1980, on housewives non-contributory invalidity pension; how many representations he has had on the matter; what replies have been sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiThe national insurance advisory committee recommended that consideration be given to possible alternatives to the household duties test for housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension. Officials have accordingly undertaken a review of HNCIP and the test 27W which, although now almost complete, is not yet ready. The issues involved are complex and the review has taken longer than expected because of its thorough nature.
As to the representations made to the Department, I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 26 January 1982—[Vol. 16, c. 333]. Since then, some further representations have been received from hon. and right hon. Members, from members of the public and from organisations representing disabled people. Replies have generally stated that the Department is reviewing the benefit and that the matter will be brought before the House when the review has been completed. I am happy to reaffirm this commitment.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department has taken since July 1980 to implement the recommendation of the national insurance advisory committee that local tribunals hearing appeals in connection with housewives non-contributory invalidity pension should include at least one woman member, preferably a disabled housewife, in their constitution.
§ Mr. RossiThe Department endeavours to ensure that, whenever possible, local tribunals hearing an appeal by a woman claimant have at least one woman member. However, the woman member will not necessarily be a disabled housewife in view of the practical difficulties of arranging this.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department had taken since July 1980 to implement the recommendation of the national insurance advisory committee to minimise administrative difficulties in connection with claims for housewives non-contributory invalidity pension.
§ Mr. RossiThe Department continually monitors the administrative arrangements for dealing with claims in order to ensure that these are as efficient and fair to claimants as possible.