HC Deb 14 April 1986 vol 95 cc296-7W
Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled married women have become entitled to receive the severe disablement allowance since November 1984 who did not have reserved rights because of their entitlement to the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension before that date.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 10 April 1986]: As at March 1985, severe disablement allowance had been awarded to 2,700 married women who were not entitled to a non-contributory invalidity pension before November 1984. In the year to March 1986, provisional figures indicate that the allowance has been awarded to a further 3,700 married women who had not been entitled to the former benefit.

Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled married women became entitled to receive the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension in each of the years since its inception; and how many of these are currently in receipt of severe disablement allowance.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 10 April 1986]: As at 30 March 1985, the latest date for which figures are available, 53,900 women were receiving severe disablement allowance by reason of their earlier entitlement to housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension. The numbers of awards made in 1978 and in each of the following years are set out in the table. The figures include cohabiting women as well as married women. Information for 1977 is not available.

Awards of Housewives' Non-contributory Invalidity Pension*
Year Numbers
1978 10,670
1979 8,370
1980 7,770
1981 7,780
1982 9,650
1983 9,940
1984 12,310
1985 †4,040
‡1986 †210
* Includes renewal awards and awards following successful appeals.
† Includes awards made on late claims to HNCIP invited where claims to severe disablement allowance indicated possible entitlement to the former benefit.
‡ to 4 April.