§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services to what factors he ascribes the increase in the average number of persons receiving invalidity benefit from 700,000 in 1982–83 to 995,000 in 1987–88 and the projected rise to 1,120,000 in 1990–91, shown in table 15.6 of Cm 288-II.
§ Mr. ScottInvalidity benefit case loads are likely to reflect a number of demographic, medical and economic influences. To understand more fully the importance of these various factors in explaining the numbers of invalidity pensioners, the Department has commissioned research by economists at Newcastle-upon-Tyne university and polytechnic. It is hoped that this project will in due course give a clearer indication of the reasons for the recent increases in invalidity benefit case loads.