§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what was(a) the total annual clawback of pensions arising from downgrading owing to hospitalisation and (b) the estimated total arising from each specific category of downgrading in each of the last five years. [14368]
§ Mr. McCartney[holding answer 13 November 2001]: Information is unavailable prior to 1997–98.
The estimated total arising from each specific category of downrating in each of the last five years is:
£ million Year 6–52 weeks downrating Over 52 weeks downrating 1997–98 23 36 1998–99 25 34 1999–2000 26 31 2000–01 28 29 Notes:
1. Figures in 2000–01 prices
2. Figures rounded to nearest £ million
The rules for the adjustment of benefits for periods in hospital are applied to most social security benefits such as incapacity benefit as well as to retirement and widow's pension. These rules, which are laid down in law, have been applied with only minor modifications since the introduction of the national insurance scheme over 50 years ago. The rules are based on the view that while the national health service provides free maintenance as well as free treatment, maintenance benefits, also paid out of state funds, should not be paid in full indefinitely.