§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) 1996 –97 and (b) 1997 –98 the numbers of new claimants to incapacity benefit who 451W have been unemployed for a minimum of two years prior to their claims and are receiving (i) occupational benefit and (ii) industrial disablement benefit for (1) the United Kingdom, (2) regional Benefits Agency areas and (3) North Staffordshire, indicating in each case the average age of the new claimant. [82681]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the form requested because the data collected on new claims do not include the length of time a person was unemployed prior to claiming Incapacity Benefit or whether they are receiving Occupational Pension. Such information as is available is set out below.
Records show that at 31 March 1997, 49 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients had previously been unemployed. It is estimated that around a third of Incapacity Benefit recipients have an Occupational Pension.