§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of sufferers from long-term psychoses have been claiming benefit over the last available year.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe most helpful information I can provide is set out below. It relates to persons claiming incapacity benefits and credits.
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§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost in sickness benefit paid to the mentally ill and the days of incapacity this reflected in 1972, 1973, and up to the latest available date in 1974.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI regret that I am unable to supply more up-to-date information than that given to my hon. Friend in reply to his Question on 11th April. In the period 7th June 1971 to 4th June 1972, 29.9 million days of incapacity were attributed to mental disorders, in connection with claims under the National Insurance Acts. This represented just under 10 per cent. of all days of incapacity so recorded: the equivalent of some £40 million in terms of benefit expenditure.—[Vol. 872, c.276.]
§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost in sickness benefit paid to the mentally ill in the period 1960 to 1970.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownOn the basis of the number of days of incapacity attributable to mental disorders as a proportion of all days of incapacity during the period, sickness benefit expenditure is estimated to have been some £242 million.