§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the numbers of men aged 60 to 64 years who have been in receipt of the long-term rate of supplementary benefit in return for not registering as unemployed for each year since the introduction of the scheme.
§ Dr. BoysonFrom November 1981 unemployed men aged 60 to 64 became eligible for the long-term rate, and were no longer required to be available for work, after they had been in receipt of supplementary benefit at the ordinary rate for a year, on condition that they ceased to register for work. In October 1982, however, registration for work ceased to be a condition for receipt of benefit for any claimant aged 18 and over, and thus the condition about ceasing to register no longer applied. From May 1983 all men aged 60 to 64 have been eligible for the long-term scale rate, whether or not they are available for work.
118WThe estimated number of men aged 60 to 64 in receipt of the long-term rate under these successive provisions, at the dates shown, is as follows:
Numbers December 1981 19,000 August 1982 31,000 December 1982 40,000 August 1983 *106,000 * Includes men who were unfit for work and were also receiving incapacity benefits, and thus is not comparable with the earlier figures.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims on form SB 20 had been received by his Department's offices nationally up to 31 December 1983; what proportion had been successful; and what proportion this represented of those entitled to claim.
§ Dr. BoysonI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.