§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of disabled married women who would qualify as new applicants for the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension in 1984–85 and in each of the subsequent nine years if housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension remains in existence; and how many disabled married women he expects newly to qualify for the severe disablement allowance in each of the same years if that proposed new benefit replaces housewives' noncontributory invalidity pension.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1984, c. 511]: It is estimated that upwards of 4,000 married women would newly qualify in 1984–85 and each subsequent year for housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension if it were to remain in existence, compared with around 4,500 married women who might expect to qualify annually for severe disablement allowance under our present proposals once the benefit has been phased in. In addition, in 1984–85 and 1985–86 some 20,000 married women who have not previously been able to qualify for HNCIP will qualify for the new benefit.