§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are (a) the numbers of people claiming sickness benefit and (b) this number expressed as a percentage of the total number of those claiming sickness benefit in 1948, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and all subsequent years.
§ Mr. MeacherInformation is not available in the form requested, but the following table sets out similar information in relation to claims for sickness benefit:—
Sickness/Invalidity* Benefit—New Claims in Year Year Number (Thousands) 1974 as a percentage of earlier years 1948/49* 7,028 140 1950 7,300 135 1955 7,919 125 1960† 8,319 119 1965 9,565 103 1970 10,632 93 1971 8,801 112 1972† 9,764 101 1973 10,022 98 1974 9,863 — Source: 100 per cent count
* Invalidity benefit was introduced from 23rd September 1971.
† 5th July 1948 to 5th July 1949
‡53 weeks.