§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of income support severe disability premium withheld by his Department pending the decision in the Bate case; how many claimants were affected; and what use has been made of the funding allocated for the scheme which has been withheld. [35903]
§ Mr. Roger EvansI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 13 June,Official Report, column 260.
Unfortunately, there was an error in the reply in that the information given for the number of suspensions as a result of the Bate case was incorrect. The figure quoted related only to those cases which had been suspended by the Secretary of State following awards made by social security appeal tribunals. It did not include those cases which had been suspended following decisions made by adjudication officers. A figure is not available for the total number of cases which have been suspended as Bate look-alikes.
63WThe information requested on the amount of income support withheld by the Department pending the House of Lords judgment in the Bate case and the number of claimants affected is not available.
The severe disability premium is paid as a component of income support which is funded by means of money voted by Parliament. Any over-spending or under-spending is reported in the annual appropriation account.