HC Deb 25 March 2003 vol 402 c171W
Kevin Brennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants have been called in for medical assessment in each of the last five years; and how many have been reassessed as not qualifying for benefit. [103235]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

The available information is in the tables.

People claiming incapacity benefit (IB) called for medical assessment
September 1998 to August 1999 768,653
September 1999 to August 2000 616,071
September 2000 to August 2001 639,923
September 2001 to August 2002 783,294

Notes:

1. Figures prior to September 1998 are available only at disproportionate cost.

2. Figures are for the number of invitations in respect of IB medical assessments. As some people will be unable to attend their assessments when first invited, these figures include second and subsequent invitations.

Source:

Figures are 100 per cent. count from Medical Provision and Contracting Team figures.

Claims to IB disallowed following a medical assessment
1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 199,290
1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 202,680
1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 181,895
1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 152,085
1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 161,125

Note:

Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Source:

Figures are 100 per cent. count from the incapacity benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of cases held clerically.