HC Deb 13 January 1998 vol 304 cc199-200W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the number of claimants in(a) Sutton and (b) Greater London, who are currently claiming disability allowance for (i) mobility awards and (ii) care awards, for (1) arthritis, (2) muscle/ bone/joint disease, (3) blindness, (4) stroke-related disability, (5) learning difficulties, (6) other mental health causes, (7) epilepsy, (8) deafness, (9) malignant disease, (10) chest disease, (11) back ailments, (12) heart disease, (13) Parkinson's Disease, (14) Diabetes Mellitus, (15) renal disorders, (16) AIDS, (17) skin diseases and (18) other reasons. [21670]

Mr. Denham

The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 12 January 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding what estimate she has made of the number of claimants in (a) Sutton and (b) Greater London, who are currently claiming Disability Living Allowance for (i) mobility awards and (ii) care awards, for (1) arthritis, (2) muscle/joint/bone disease, (3) blindness, (4) stroke related diseases, (5) learning difficulties, (6) other mental health causes, (7) epilepsy, (8) deafness, (9) malignant disease, (10) chest diseases, (11) back aliments, (12) heart diseases, (13) Parkinsons disease, (14) Diabetes melitus, (15) renal disorders, (16) AIDS, (17) skin diseases, (18) other reasons. Due to the low numbers involved and high margin of error, it has not been possible to provide an accurate breakdown, by main disabling condition for Sutton. However the following figures provide the total of all the disabling conditions required, for the Sutton area.

All disabling conditions
All awards 3,187
Awards of care 2,049
Awards of mobility 2,771
As the numbers for Greater London are higher a more accurate breakdown has been possible and this shown in the attached table. I hope you find this reply helpful.
Disability living allowance for Greater London
Main disabling condition All awards Awards of care Awards of mobility
1. Arthritis 27,900 17,900 25,500
2. Muscle/joint/bone disease 12,900 8,800 10,500
3. Blindness 6,100 5,300 5,900
4. Stroke related diseases 7,800 6,700 7,000
5. Learning difficulties 19,100 15,100 16,000
6. Other mental health causes 24,900 21,200 20,300
7. Epilepsy 4,800 4,400 4,100
8. Deafness 2,300 2,200 1,300
9. Malignant disease 4,700 4,300 3,900
10. Chest disease 5,200 2,800 4,700
11. Back ailments 11,500 6,900 10,600
12. Heart diseases 8,300 4,200 7,800
13. Parkinsons disease 1,100 1,000 1,000
14. Diabetes melitus 4,100 3,400 2,700
15. Renal disorders 1,200 900 1,000
16. AIDS 3,700 3,500 3,400
17. Skin diseases 1,400 1,300 400
18. Other reasons 26,900 20,900 21,800
Data is provisional and subject to change.