§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently receiving non-contributory invalidity pension to whom regulation 5(1) (a) of the Social Security (Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension) Regulations 1975 applies; and how many such people have been awarded non-contributory invalidity pension in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Rossi:The information is not available.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, on how many occasions he has certified that an applicant for non-contributory invalidity pension is receiving full-time education under regulation 5(1) (a) of the Social Security (Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension) Regulations 1975; what criteria he uses in such cases; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Rossi:The information on numbers is not available.
A certificate is issued if the applicant is over 16 and under 19, is attending a recognised school, college or university or a comparable establishment and is following a normal course of education which is similar to, and occupies approximately the same number of hours as, one which would be suitable for a non-handicapped person of the same age.
§ Mrs. Renee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 22 June,Official Report, c. 91,if he can now make a statement on the review of the household duties for non-contributory invalidity pension for married women.
§ Mr. Rossi:I have nothing to add at present to my reply to the right hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Ennals) on 13 July.—[Vol. 27, c. 840–1.]
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify any circumstances in which someone(a)aged 16 to 19 years and(b)aged 19 years and over may qualify for non-contributory invalidity pension where he would not qualify for invalidity benefit, other than failure to satisfy the contribution conditions for invalidity benefit.
§ Mr. Rossi:I am not aware of any such circumstances. The essential qualifying condition for both benefits is that the person concerned must be incapable of work, and this question is decided by the independent adjudicating authorities on the merits of each individual case. If however the right hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall be glad to look at it.