HC Deb 14 February 1995 vol 254 cc599-602W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many sufferers from asbestos-related diseases have had to pay back benefits to the compensation recovery unit during the current financial year; and what were the sums of money that were clawed back;

(2) what is the largest sum of money that has ever been clawed back by the compensation recovery unit; and what was the type of sickness, accident or illness involved in this case;

(3) what is the distribution by size of the amounts of money clawed back by the compensation recovery unit.

Mr. Roger Evans

This is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 13 February 1995:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the number of sufferers from asbestos related diseases who have had to pay back benefits to the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU); the largest sum of money recovered by the CRU and the distribution by size of the amounts recovered.

The CRU's computer system records cases involving victims of asbestosis rather then asbestos related diseases. In the period 1 April 1994 to 31 January 1995 there were 121 recoveries made in relation to asbestosis totalling £893,937.82. The individual amounts are shown on the attached schedule at Annex A.

The full range of information you requested in respect of a breakdown or recoveries by size is not available. This is because data prior to April 1994 is no longer held on the computer system and to obtain such information n would be at a disproportionate cost. However, the information that is available from 1 April 1994 to 31 December 1994, has been provided at Annex B.

The largest amount recovered to date is £84,630.01. This was from an award for a back/spinal injury.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Annex A
Schedule of 121 cases referred to in PQ 0873 showing amounts recovered
£
1. 18.64
2. 18.64
3. 42.00
4. 55.92
5. 68.34
6. 89.90
7. 126.00
8. 173.70
9. 223.68
10. 337.95
11. 433.50
12. 484.64
13. 605.29
14. 621.20
15. 672.20
16. 706.28
17. 862.93
18. 1,032.31
19. 1,105.13
20. 1,176.00
21. 1,208.80
22. 1,219.80
23. 1,329.95
24. 1,582.87
25. 1,692.18
26. 1,693.30
27. 1,738.24
28. 1,747.37
29. 1,773.16
30. 1,798.56
31. 1,853.68
32. 1,927.64
33. 1,937.45
Annex A
Schedule of 121 cases referred to in PQ 0873 showing amounts recovered
£
34. 2,069.31
35. 2,135.36
36. 2,147.76
37. 2,270.16
38. 2,298.58
39. 2,375.28
40. 2,414.16
41. 2,454.00
42. 2,547.84
43. 2,572.01
44. 2,579.18
45. 2,629.67
46. 2,655.15
47. 2,676.40
48. 2,768.28
49. 2,815.44
50. 3,002.10
51. 3,061.41
52. 3,125.32
53. 3,270.80
54. 3,416.08
55. 3,422.72
56. 3,662.04
57. 4,038.28
58. 4,039.11
59. 4,119.04
60. 4,135.12
61. 4,165.87
62. 4,279.80
63. 4,297.84
64. 4,406.56
65. 4,582.56
66. 4,626.08
67. 4,763.04
68. 4,814.80
69. 4,873.36
70. 5,059.80
71. 5.263.56
72. 5,298.16
73. 5.442.85
74. 5,527.24
75. 5,527.34
76. 5,909.44
77. 6,000.72
78. 6,274.02
79. 6,304.15
80. 6,559.10
81. 6,582.70
82. 6,603.92
83. 6,668.43
84. 6,689.10
85. 6,691.50
86. 6,946.10
87. 6,973.50
88. 7,609.51
89. 7,758.84
90. 8,029.77
91. 8,082.43
92. 8,969.48
93. 9,076.00
94. 9,314.79
95. 9,533.69
96. 10,170.90
97. 10,367.62
98. 10,917.52
99. 10,947.30
100. 11,062.90
101. 11,725.80
102. 12,796.04
103. 14,946.17
104. 15,862.47
Annex A
Schedule of 121 cases referred to in PQ 0873 showing amounts recovered
£
105. 16,832.00
106. 17,136.67
107. 17,140.01
108. 19,027.45
109. 19,749.98
110. 23,719.15
111. 24,395.44
112. 25,294.82
113. 25,355.18
114. 27,518.62
115. 28,421.77
116. 28,855.99
117. 31,153.19
118. 32,203.62
119. 35,220.65
120. 36,558.38
121. 47,994.18
Annex B
£ Percentage
To 5,000.01 31.5
5,000.01 to 10,000.00 17.8
10,000.01 to 15,000.00 15.4
15,000.01 to 20,000.00 12,0
20,000.01 to 25,000.00 8.4
25,000.01 14.9