HC Deb 21 April 1988 vol 131 cc551-2W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people were in receipt of severe disablement allowance at the latest date for which figures are available; what was the breakdown of this total by(a) age and (b) cause of incapacity for work;

(2) how many people are receiving severe disablement allowance as a result of (a) mental handicap (b) severe mental handicap.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 18 April 1988]: Separate information is not available on the numbers who are receiving severe disablement allowance as a result of mental handicap or severe mental handicap. These cases are included in Table 2 under 'mental disorders'.

The information as at 5 April 1986 is as follows :

Table 1
Severe Disablement Allowance Claimants Incapacitated on 5 April 1986. Analysed by Age at 31 March 1986
Age Men Women
All ages 103,000 158,000
Under 20 12,000 8,000
20–24 18,000 10,000
25–29 11,000 10,000
30–34 9,000 11,000
35–39 9,000 14,000
40–44 8,000 14,000
45–49 6,000 17,000
50–54 7,000 23,000
55–59 7,000 28,000
60–64 10,000 16,000
65 and over 6,000 6,000

Note: The figures are quoted to the nearest 1,000.

Severe disablement allowance claimants incapacitated on 5 April 1986 Analysed by cause according to the International classification of diseases 1975
Men Women
All causes 103,000 158,000
Infectious and parasitic diseases 1,000 3,000
Neoplasms — 2,000
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, immunity disorders 1,000 3,000
Diseases of blood and blood forming organs — 1,000
Mental disorders 62,000 60,000
Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs 16,000 30,000
Diseases of the circulartoy system 3,000 11,000
Diseases of the respiratory system 2,000 5,000
Diseases of the digestive system 1,000 1,000
Diseases of the genito-urinary system — 1,000
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue — —
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 3,000 27,000
Congenital anomalies 10,000 10,000
Symptoms signs and ill-defined conditions 3,000 4,000
Injury and poisoning 1,000 2,000

Notes:

1. The figures are quoted to the nearest 1,000.

2. A dash indicates that there are fewer than 500 claimants suffering from that condition.