HC Deb 18 December 1974 vol 883 cc456-9W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of claimants drawing (a) flat-rate sickness benefit and (b) earnings-related benefit for each year since the introduction of earnings-related benefit;

(2)what has been the number and percentage of those receiving sickness benefit who also received supplementary benefit for each year since 1966;

(3)what has been the number and percentage of those receiving invalidity benefit who also received supplementary benefit for each year since 1971;

(4)if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of claimants claiming (a) flat-rate sickness benefit; (b) earnings-related benefit and (c) flat-rate and earnings-related benefit and supplementary benefit, for each year since the introduction of earnings-related benefit.

Mr. Alec Jones

This information is not available in the precise form requested by the hon. Lady, but the available information is set out below.

The figures in columns (2) and (3) are for claims received during the calendar years; columns (4) and (5) give totals of persons receiving benefit at the statistical count in June; and columns (6) to (10) relate to persons receiving benefit at the supplementary benefit statistical count in November. Earnings-related supplement is not claimed separately from flat-rate benefit.

Persons receiving sickness benefit and supplementary benefit Persons receiving invalidity benefit and supplementary benefit
Year New claims during the year for sickness benefit New claims during the year for sickness benefit where earnings-related supplement paid Persons receiving sickness benefit Persons receiving sickness benefit with earnings-related supplement Persons receiving sickness benefit with earnings-related supplement and supplementary benefit Number Percentage of number receiving sickness benefit Number Percentage of number receiving invalidity benefit
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
(millions) (millions) (thousands) (thousands)
1967 9.8 Not available 903 246 4,700 164,000 16.8
1968 10.8 Not available 937 253 5,200 172,000 17.6
1969 10.9 3.4 914 254 3,000 170,000 17.5
1970 11.5 3.7 932 262 2,600 164,000 17.5
1971* 9.2 3.1 857 233 6,400 21,000 4.4 129,000 31.8
1972 9.0 3.0 435 236 800 20,000 3.9 110,000 25.4
1973 10.0 3.7 449 264 1,600 19,000 Not yet available 92,000 Not yet available
* Invalidity benefit introduced.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of persons drawing (a) flat-rate unemployment benefit, (b) earnings-related benefit and (c) flat-rate unemployment benefit and earnings-related benefit and supplementary benefit, for each year since the payment of earnings-related benefit.

Mr. Alec Jones

The figures below describe the position on the first Monday

Thousands
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
(a) Flat-rate unemployment benefit only 174 134 134 136 172 191 106 90
(b) Flat-rate unemployment benefit with earnings-related supplement 85 86 84 101 130 153 90 86
(c) Flat-rate unemployment benefit with earnings-related supplement and supplementary benefit 12 8 8 9 14 13 8 10