§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in his Department's monitoring of the reduction of the linking period of national insurance benefits from 13 weeks to eight weeks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThe first incapacity benefit statistics covering a complete year since the introduction of the new linking rule became available only recently. Analysis of that information has begun and, as previously promised, a report will be provided by the end of this year.
I can confirm that there is no indication from the correspondence received in the Department that the shorter 665W linking rule is having an unduly harsh effect on any group of claimants. Few individual cases have been brought to our attention.