HC Deb 22 December 1981 vol 15 cc374-5W
21. Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there has been an increase in social security expenditure on the disabled in real terms since 1978–79.

39. Mr. Sainsbury

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated expenditure on social security benefits for the disabled in the current financial year.

Mr. Rossi

The estimated expenditure on cash benefits for long-term sick and disabled people in 1981–82 is £2,781 million. This represents an increase of about 6 per cent. in real terms over the 1978–79 figure.

33. Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people are receiving benefits compared with the position in 1979.

Mr. Rossi

The information for each of the benefits is as follows. It is not possible to give an overall total because some people receive more than one benefit.

Latest figure 1979
Invalidity benefit 614,500 (May 1980) 609,000 (June)
Non-contributory invalidity pension 125,900 (May 1980) 119,000 (June)
Non-contributory invalidity pension for married women 44,700 (May 1980) 42,900 (June)
Attendance allowance 295,000 *(September 1980) 267,000 *(June)
Mobility allowance 210,000 (December 1981) 116,000 (June)

Latest figure 1979
Industrial disablement pension 195,000 †(September 1980) 198,000 (September)
War disablement pension 259,000 (September 1981) 278,000 (September)
Old scheme (workmen's compensation) 6,000 (September 1980) 6,000 (September)
Supplementary Benefit:
Sick and Disabled— with invalidity or non-contributory invalidity pension 83,000 (December 1980) 79,000 (November)
without another incapacity benefit (these figures include short-term as well as long-term sick) 99,000 (December 1980) 109,000 (November)
* Estimated
† Provisional