HC Deb 18 July 1988 vol 137 c483W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalidity benefit claimants were in receipt of(a) each of the rates of the invalidity allowance and (b) the additional component, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Scott

At April 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 220,000 people in receipt of the high rate of invalidity allowance, 154,000 in receipt of the middle rate, and 135,000 in receipt of the low rate. These figures exclude those whose additional pension (previously known as additional component) extinguished their entitlement to invalidity allowance. There were 692,000 people in receipt of additional pension.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was(a) the average amount of additional component payable to invalidity benefit claimants and (b) the maximum possible amount of additional component for invalidity benefit claimants, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Scott

At April 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the average amount of additional pension payable to all invalidity benefit claimants was £4.30. The maximum possible amount at that time was £29.11. From April 1988 the maximum has risen to £34.75.