HC Deb 04 July 2000 vol 353 cc162-3W
Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of increasing disability benefits by(a) 5 per cent. and (b) 10 per cent. for people in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK. [128235]

Angela Eagle

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Estimates for Scotland and Great Britain of the total costs in 2001–2002 of increases in Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance
£ million
5 per cent. increase 10 per cent. increase
Scotland 80 160
Great Britain 700 1,410

Notes:

1. Costs rounded to the nearest ten million and presented in cash prices.

2. Costs are derived from expenditure forecasts by Analytical Services Division.

3. Information on benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost for Scotland and the UK of extending the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to disabled people aged over 65 years. [128173]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

The costs of extending the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to disabled people aged over 65 years for Scotland and Great Britain
£ billion
Cost
Great Britain 2.6
Scotland 0.3

Notes:

1. Costs are in cash prices and rounded to nearest hundred million.

2. Estimates derived from model of entitlement based on 1996–97 Disability Survey and forecast caseloads.

3. Estimates are subject to a significant margin of error reflecting underlying uncertainties of modelling entitlement from available survey data.

4. Estimated costs include effects on income related benefits.

5. Costs for Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Forward to