HC Deb 14 March 1989 vol 149 cc173-4W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to notify women who would be entitled to invalid care allowance on the basis of the settlement of case CG/15/1987; and whether he proposes to revise his Department's publications.

Mr. Scott

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshaw (Mr.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I regret that the information requested is not available. The supplementary benefit annual statistical inquiry identified only carers under pension age who cared for severely disabled people aged 16 years or more and who would otherwise have been required to be available for employment. The figures therefore included carers of people under pension age, and excluded carers who were not subject to the condition of availability for employment. The cost and numbers requested, for identified supplementary benefit carers, could be obtained but only at disproportionate cost. Information for income support, which will be available later this year, will not identify carers separately.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, of 6 March,Official Report, column 446, he will express the number of supplementary benefit/income support claimants for each region as an index figure with 1979 as the base.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information is as follows.

Morris) on 21 December at column 306. Any follow-up action which may be necessary will need to await the outcome of related cases currently before the social security commissioner and the Court of Appeal, also affecting the entitlement of women over pension age.