§ 16. Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the average percentage increase in real terms of the invalidity pension and invalidity allowances since November 1978.
§ Mr. ScottInvalidity pension and invalidity allowances have increased by almost 3 per cent. in real terms between November 1978 and April 1992. From April 1993 we have announced an increase in line with last September's RPI of 3.6 per cent. The latest RPI figure for January was 1.7 per cent.
The average weekly payment of invalidity benefit was £67.40 on 30 March 1991, the latest date for which information is available.
Note: Information from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants.