§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will break down the 21 per cent. real increase in benefits for the long-term sick and disabled referred to by the Under-Secretary on 18 November, Official Report, column 1124, into (a) the increase in the number of beneficiaries and (b) the increase in individual benefit levels.
§ Mr. NewtonThe real increase in expenditure on disabled people and long-term sick (as defined in the public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 8789 Tables 2.12:2 page 62) between 1978–79 and 1982–83 due to increased benefit rates was 4.3 per cent; that due to an increase in the number of benefits in payment was 16.7 per cent.