HC Deb 24 October 1994 vol 248 cc618-9
6. Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on tests for invalidity benefit.

The Minister for Social Security and Disabled People (Mr. William Hague)

All benefits for people who are incapable of work are subject to medical control procedures, which may include a medical examination by a doctor from the Benefits Agency medical services for a second opinion about a person's capacity for work.

Mrs. Roche

Given that the report on the new tests was published more than a month late, and that there were considerable delays in issuing copies of the report to members of the public, will the Minister stick to his departmental pledge that there will be a three-month consultation period so that members of the public, including many of my constituents, who have grave concerns about the new tests can make their fears known to the Government?

Mr. Hague

It is important to ensure that the tests are soundly based, and that is why the time was taken to consider the work of the panel of 80 experts which led to the document mentioned by the hon. Lady. That has meant that the time for consultation is compressed. Obviously, it is also important that the tests come into force at the time next year that the Act states. That means that the consultation period is shorter than intended, but I hope that all who are interested will take the time available to contribute to the document and to send their views to the Government.

Mr. John Marshall

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his promotion. Can he tell the House the trend in the number of recipients of invalidity benefit over the past 10 years, at a time of improved health standards? Does not that increase lead one to suspect that some people who have been getting the benefit should not have been getting it?

Mr. Hague

My hon. Friend refers to an important point. The number of people on invalidity benefit has increased from about 700,000 to more than 1.5 million. The Government's reforms are intended to ensure that incapacity benefit goes to people who are genuinely incapable of work. The social security system should be geared to looking after people in that position, not to people for whom the benefit was not originally intended.

Mr. Bradley

I welcome the Minister to his new range of responsibilities, and I welcome all the extra Ministers whom the Government have put up against the quality, if not the quantity, of the Opposition Front Bench. Can the Minister confirm that, since he belatedly published the medical test, the Government's original estimate that there will be an extra 200,000 people claiming unemployment benefit but not eligible for the new incapacity benefit is still the case? What will be the impact of the new job seeker's allowance on those people who are in receipt of invalidity benefit but who will fail the new medical test and be expected to go on to other benefits?

Mr. Hague

Yes, I can confirm that our estimates of the numbers involved are the same as before; we have had no reason to change them. Obviously, for people who are not eligible for incapacity benefit, the full range of other benefits of the social security system are available, as, indeed, they are to everyone else.