§ Lord Astor of Heverasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give the source and method of calculation behind the figures quoted by the Prime Minister in his assertion on 4 July (HC Deb, col. 254) that people coming on to incapacity benefit will be paid on average £4,000 a year for 10, 15 or 20 years without any checks as to their recovery or ability to work; and [HL433]
Following the Prime Minister's assertion that people coming on to incapacity benefit will be paid on average about £4,000 a year for 10, 15 or 20 years without any checks as to their recovery or ability to work (HC Deb, 4 July, col. 254), whether they will clarify which permanently or severely disabling conditions will exempt an incapacity benefit claimant from an eligibility review. [HL434].
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The Disability Rights Commission has stated that 1 million disabled people not in work say they would like to work. We have a duty to help them do so. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister was quoting the type of case that can arise under the regime.
The proposed changes announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State on 11 July (Commons Official Report col. 567W) do not change 42WA the current exemptions from medical testing which apply to the most severely disabled people. However, they will ensure that there is a review at least every three years to make sure people are getting all the help they need.
§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many recipients of incapacity benefit are not subject to further medical tests because of the severity of their disabilities; and what percentage of incapacity benefit recipients as a whole they represent. [HL621]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe information is in the table.
Thousands Total number of Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients at 28 February 2001 Number exempt from the Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) due to severe medical conditions Percentage of IB recipients 1,515.2 366.7 24.2 Notes:
1. Although people with severe medical conditions do not have to undergo the whole PCA their cases may be reviewed from time to time to ensure that the criteria is satisfied.
2. The table excludes national insurance credits only cases.
3. The figures are taken from a 5 per cent sample of the benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
4. Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.