§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many severe disablement allowance claimants are in receipt of(a) income support, (b) housing benefit, (c) another means-tested benefit; and if he will state for each group what his Department's estimate is of the reduction in dependence on income-related benefits resulting from the introduction of the three age-related additions to severe disablement allowance.
§ Mr. ScottIt is estimated that about 140,000 severe disablement allowance claimants receive income support and that of these, about 50,000 also receive housing benefit. About a further 5,000 severe disablement allowance claimants receive housing benefit but not income support. The number receiving other income-related benefits is negligible. The introduction of an age-related addition for severe disablement allowance will result in a gross increase in expenditure of £110 million in the first full year after implementation (1991–92). The consequential reduction in expenditure on income-related benefits is expected to be £60 million leaving a net expenditure increase of £50 million. Almost all the reduction in income-related benefit expenditure stems from reduced dependence on income support.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the amount of reduction in dependence on income-related benefits by the introduction of the three age-related additions to severe disablement allowance.
§ Mr. ScottThe introduction of an age-related addition for severe disablement allowance will increase gross expenditure by £110 million in the first year after implementation (1991–92). The consequential reduction in income-related benefit expenditure is expected to amount to £60 million, leaving a net increase in expenditure of £50 million as a consequence of this measure.