asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people annually he expects to lose entitlement to industrial disablement pension as a result of a reduction in the linking period for injury benefit from 13 weeks to six weeks in clause 3 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill; what savings will accrue to his Department as a result; and if he will make a statement.

None, because the Bill has no effect on section 57(4) of the Social Security Act 1975 which governs the date from which disablement benefit is available.