HC Deb 27 November 1995 vol 267 cc510-2W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the benefits which were subsequently claimed by the 18,895 people who were found capable of work following the all work test referred to in his answer of 23 October 1995,Official Report, column 485.[1840]

Mr. Burt

[holding answer 24 November 1995]: Of incapacity benefit claimants found capable of work following the application of the all work test between April and September, 8,974 have claimed unemployment benefit. Information for other benefits claimed is not available.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people who have been found capable of work between April and October 1995 were undertaking exempt work under regulation 17(a) of the Incapacity for Work (General Regulations); [1752]

(2) how many people in receipt of (a) severe disablement allowance, and (b) incapacity benefit, undertaking exempt work under regulation 17(a) of the Incapacity for Work (General) Regulations, have subsequently lost benefit because they have earned above the earnings limit; [1830]

(3) how many people in receipt of (a) severe disablement allowance and (b) incapacity benefit, are also undertaking work which is exempt under regulation 17(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Incapacity for Work (General) Regulations; and what is the average amount of their earnings. [1831]

Mr. Burt

[holding answer 24 November 1995]: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of incapacity benefit are currently exempt from the all-work test by virtue of(a) receipt of the highest rate of the disability living allowance care component, (b) in receipt of invalidity benefit and aged over 58 years on 13 April, (c) with a serious medical condition and (d) a serious mental illness. [1832]

Mr. Burt

[holding answer 24 November 1995]: Such information as is available is in the table.

Reason for exemption from all work test Number exempt
Receipt of the Disability Living Allowance highest rate care component 20,976
Receipt of Invalidity Benefit between 1 December
1993 and 12 April 1995 and aged 58 or over on 13 April 1995 480,000
Severe medical condition, including severe mental illness 138,828

1. Figures for severe mental illness are not separately available.

2. Figures for exempt incapacity benefit claimants who are also in receipt of Widow's Benefit are not held on the computer system and are not included above.

3. Information available to end of October 1995.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of incapacity benefit between April and October 1995 have had their benefit suspended for undertaking work which is not exempt. [1833]

Mr. Burt

[holding answer 24 November 1995]: Claimants are treated as capable of work for any week in which they do work which is not in one of the permitted categories.

Information is not available on the number of people who leave incapacity benefit for work, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of invalidity benefit failed to attend a medical examination to assess their incapacity for work in each of the quarters ending December 1994 and March 1995. [1747]

Mr. Burt

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

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Keith Bradley dated 24 November 1995: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many claimants of Invalidity Benefit failed to attend a medical examination to assess their incapacity for work in each of the quarters ending December 1994 and March 1995. Information is not available in the format requested. This is because separate statistics for each benefit were not kept on the numbers failing to attend a medical examination. The total number of customers who failed to attend a medical examination, in respect of Invalidity Benefit and Sickness Benefit, to assess their incapacity for work in the quarter ending December 1994 was 17,750 and for the quarter ending March 1995, the figure was 20,066. I hope you find this reply helpful.