HC Deb 13 February 1995 vol 254 cc535-6W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently on invalidity benefit in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Wales, (c) each Welsh county and (d) each Welsh constituency; in each case, what percentage of the population this represents; what were the figures in (i) 1979, (ii) 1983 and (iii) 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Number of women receiving full (a) or partial Retirement Pension on their husbands contribution record payable in Great Britain
Category B widows (b) Category B married women (a) Total
Category B (L) Category A/B(L)(e)
full rate reduced rate full rate reduced rate full rate reduced rate full rate reduced rate
31.12.64(c) 1,269,900 62,420 1,098,320 25,480 2,368,220 87,900
31.12.65(c) 1,281,280 64,180 1,139,800 27,360 2,421,080 91,540
31.12.66(c) 1,288,820 62,820 1,180,120 28,500 2,468,940 91,320
31.12.67(c) 1,301,100 60,560 1,226,620 31,660 2,527,720 92,220
31.12.68(c) 1,316,800 59,840 1,272,780 33,660 2,589,580 93,500
31.12.69(d)
31.12.70(d)
31.12.71(c) 1,378,350 55,370 1,398,890 53,900 2,777,240 109,270
30.11.12(c) 1,423,145 58,402 1,434,781 59,172 2,857,926 117,574
30.11.73 1,475,288 60,138 1,471,773 61,303 2,947,061 121,441
29.11.74 1,510,945 62,962 1,518,145 63,959 3,029,090 126,921
28.11.75 1,582,473 44,250 1,556,967 39,419 3,139,440 83,669
26.11.76 1,639,875 42,820 1,611,094 39,973 3,250,969 82,793
25.11.77 1,716,099 39,873 1,652,205 40,438 3,368,304 80,309
30.11.78 2,020,940 76,140 1,685,220 39,830 3,706,160 115,970
30.11.79 2,045,650 75,730 1,707,440 40,910 7,920 70 3,761,010 116,710
28.11.80 2,055,980 71,290 1,716,800 40,270 30,040 230 3,802,820 111,790
30.08.81 2,073,950 69,780 1,715,520 40,020 45,080 180 3,834,550 109,980
31.05.82 2,073,740 66,660 1,703,970 38,550 72,980 330 3,850,690 105,540
31.03.83 2,068,690 64,370 1,671,020 39,760 102,560 960 3,842,270 105,090
31.03.84 2,024,830 59,330 1,623,660 40,360 139,610 820 3,788,100 100,510

Mr. Hague

No information is available in respect of the Welsh counties and constituencies.

Information for Great Britain, and Wales is in the table. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for Social Security statistics in Northern Ireland.

The number of Invalidity Benefit recipients in Great Britain and Wales at a particular time, and the percentage of the population they represent
Number of recipients Percentage of population
Great Britain:
1979 610,000 1.7
1983 737,000 2.0
1987 968,000 2.6
1993 1,580,000 4.2
Wales:
1979 69,000 3.8
1983 87,000 4.8
1987 122,000 6.6
1993 172,000 9.2

Notes:

1. The number of recipients figure is at June for 1979, and April for 1983, 1987 and 1993.

2. The Welsh 1979 figure may contain a small number of claimants not in receipt of benefit.

3. The estimated population figures used are mid—year, and are in respect of men aged 16 to 69 and women aged 16 to 64.

Sources:

1. Invalidity benefit information is based on a one per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. Estimated mid-year population figures supplied by population estimates unit, OPCS.