HC Deb 22 July 1974 vol 877 cc365-6W
Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in order to enable effective research into and planning for community care, if she will ensure that all social security benefits are

DAYS OF CERTIFIED INCAPACITY AND CLAIMANTS IN PERIOD FOR SICKNESS/INVALIDITY BENEFIT IN RESPECT OF MENTAL DISORDERS (DLN.290–315)*
1971–72 1972–73
Days in period Estimated number of claimants in period Days in period Estimated number of claimants in period
Psychoses (290–299):
290. Senile and pre-senile dementia … … 14,080 120 52,280 160
291. Alcoholic psychosis … … … … 960 40 40,080 160
293. Psychosis associated with other cerebral conditions 1,480 40 — —
294 Psychosis associated with other physical conditions — — 12,480 40
295. Schizophrenia … … … … 2,605,280 10,600 2,953,000 11,680
296. Affective psychoses … … … … 467,640 4,040 614,560 5,440
297. Paranoid states … … … … 122,960 680 65,200 480
298. Other psychoses … … … … 36,920 200 9,080 80
299. Unspecified psychoses … … … 7,262,920 29,640 6,456,360 25,800
Neuroses Personality Disorders and Other Non-Psychotic Mental Disorders (300–309):
300. Neuroses … … … … 18,295,600 213,880 19,191,000 222,880
301. Personality disorders … … … 128,960 800 161,040 1,200
303. Alcoholism … … … … 113,160 1,000 131,880 1,800
304. Drug dependence … … … … 32,840 280 52,720 640
305. Physical disorders of presumably psychogenic origin 149,120 2,440 59,640 1,480
306. Special symptoms NEC … … … 73,000 1,440 92,120 1,680
307. Transient situational disturbances … 17,840 560 53,000 1,080
309. Mental disorders not specified as psychotic associated with physical conditions 15,640 80 12,480 40
Mental Retardation (310–315):
310. Border line mental retardation … … — — 15,600 80
315. Unspecified mental retardation … … 565,160 2,000 657,720 2,200
290–315 … … … … 29,903,560 267,840 30,630,240 276,920
Incapacity throughout the period (290–315) … 18 million 18.5 million
* According to International Classification of Diseases. 1965.

analysed according to the cause of incapacity and local authority areas.

Mr. O'Malley

I am afraid that it would be quite impracticable to record, in connection with benefit claims, the existence and diagnosis of an incapacitating condition where that condition has no bearing on entitlement to the benefit—as is the case, for example, with retirement pensions. Analysis of social security benefits by local authority area would impose an unacceptable burden on the Department's local offices.