§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost in the last year for which figures are available of replacing lost and or stolen pension books.
§ Dr. BoysonIn the year ending December 1982, a total of almost 53 million order books for social security pensions and benefits were issued. Net losses totalled just over 120,000. It is estimated that the administrative cost of replacing the benefit in these cases was about £¾ million. A precise calculation could only be made at disproportionate cost.