HC Deb 05 May 1971 vol 816 c388W
54. Mr. Alexander Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the cost of sickness benefit paid to the mentally ill in Scotland, and the days of incapacity this reflected, for the years 1968, 1969, and 1970;

(2) what is the estimated cost in working man hours lost for mental illness in Scotland for the years 1968 and 1969, and to the latest available date in 1970.

Mr. Dean

Information is available only about sickness which is notified for the purpose of claims under the National Insurance Acts. The numbers of days of certified incapacity attributed to psycho-neuroses and psychoses in Scotland and the corresponding costs of sickness benefit are estimated to be as follows:

Year Days (June to May) Millions Cost (April to March) £ millions
1967–68 3.5 3.2
1968–69 3.6 3.6
1969–70 3.7 3.9