Benefits (Hansard, 24 July 1986)

§ Mrs. Beckett
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent on (i) weekly disablement pensions under the industrial injuries scheme, (ii) special hardship allowance and (iii) other additions to industrial injuries benefit in the latest year for which figures are available.

§ Mr. Newton
Information is not available in the form requested. Expenditure for the year ended 5 April 1986 was as follows:

£'000

Disablement benefit (including special hardship allowance) 405,907

Other additions to disablement benefit 4,900

410,807

§ Mrs. Beckett
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people at the latest date for which information is available were receiving industrial injury disablement pension (i) at 20 per cent. or less, (ii) at 30 per cent., (iii) at 40 per cent. (iv) at 50 to 90 per cent., (v) at 100 per cent., (vi) special hardship allowance, (vii) constant attendance allowance, (viii) unemployab:ility supplement, (ix) exceptionally severe disablement allowance and (x) hospital treatment allowance.

§ Mr. Newton
Figures for the year ending 30 September 1983 (the latest for which information is available) are as follows:

Beneficiaries

Disablement pension

20 per cent, and below 90,980

30 per cent. 45,570

40 per cent. 21,950

50 to 90 per cent. 23,960

100 per cent. 3,660

Special hardship allowance 144,770

Constant attendance allowance 2,170

Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 710

Unemployability supplement 270

Hospital treatment allowance 50

§ Mr. Clay
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of increasing the single person's rate of each of the following benefits by £7.35 (i) invalid care allowance, (ii) invalidity pension, (iii) severe disablement allowance, (iv) statutory sick pay and (v) unemployment benefit.

§ Mr. Newton
[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1986, c. 418]: The estimated gross cost in a full year of increasing the personal rates of the following benefits by £7.35 a week is^*
433W

£ million

Invalid care allowance 30

Invalidity pension 350

Severe disablement allowance 95

Statutory sick pay †110

Unemployment benefit 335

^* The gross costs would be offset to some extent by savings on supplementary benefit and housing benefit: these could be estimated only at disproportionate expense.

† Statutory sick pay is paid by employers, who recover the cost from contributions payable to the National Insurance Fund. The figure of £110 million is the estimated net reduction in National Insurance Fund income.

	£'000
Disablement benefit (including special hardship allowance)	405,907
Other additions to disablement benefit	4,900
	410,807

	Beneficiaries
Disablement pension
20 per cent, and below	90,980
30 per cent.	45,570
40 per cent.	21,950
50 to 90 per cent.	23,960
100 per cent.	3,660
Special hardship allowance	144,770
Constant attendance allowance	2,170
Exceptionally severe disablement allowance	710
Unemployability supplement	270
Hospital treatment allowance	50

	£ million
Invalid care allowance	30
Invalidity pension	350
Severe disablement allowance	95
Statutory sick pay	†110
Unemployment benefit	335
^* The gross costs would be offset to some extent by savings on supplementary benefit and housing benefit: these could be estimated only at disproportionate expense.
† Statutory sick pay is paid by employers, who recover the cost from contributions payable to the National Insurance Fund. The figure of £110 million is the estimated net reduction in National Insurance Fund income.