Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits – 3 March 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Benefits on 3rd March 1987.

Mr. David Atkinson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department’s estimate of the number of people receiving invalidity benefit who are of retirement age but who do not receive a full state retirement pension; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major At 31 March 1985, the latest date for which figures are available, there were an estimated 72,000 men aged 65 to 69 years and 12,000 women aged 60 to 64 years receiving invalidity benefit. It is not possible to receive retirement pension in addition to invalidity benefit.

Mr. Watts Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Social Security Advisory Committee has completed its review of time limits for claiming benefits and reported; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major The committee’s report has been received and together with the Government’s response to its various recommendations is contained in a Command Paper (Cm. 100) published today. We are grateful to the committee for its report and to those interested parties who made representations. The recommendations achieve a rational package of measures which, with other changes in the rules governing claims to and payments of benefits, will introduce a considerable simplification in the administration of the benefits system. We propose to incorporate the revised time limits in a common set of claims and payments regulations to be laid later this year and to come into force in April 1988.