§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of persons who are entitled to a non-contributory invalidity pension but who have not so far claimed it; and what would be the net cost, at 1982–83 benefit rates, of raising the non-contributory invalidity pension to the level of the contributory invalidity pension and paying it (a) to all those claiming and (b) to all those entitled to claim noncontributory invalidity pension.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1984, c. 110]: It is estimated that there are abut 75,000 people currently in receipt of supplementary benefit who would be entitled to non-contributory invalidity pension (NCIP) if they claimed it.
We estimate that the net cost at 1982–83 benefit rates of paying NCIP and housewives' NCIP at the level of contributory invalidity pension would be about £45 million in respect of those already in receipt of NCIP plus a further £5 million for those currently thought to be entitled to claim NCIP.