HC Deb 28 February 1989 vol 148 cc154-5W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Greenock and Port Glasgow were in receipt of(a) attendance allowance at (i) the higher rate and (ii) the lower rate, (b) invalid care allowance, (c) mobility allowance, (d) invalidity benefit, (e) severe disablement allowance, (f) industrial disablement pension, (g) war disablement pension, (h) retirement pension, (i) income support and (j) supplementary benefit at the latest date for which figures are available; what those dates are; and if he will give comparable figures for five years and 10 years ago.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. Nor are details available of the number of people in Greenock and Port Glasgow receiving (a) attendance allowance, (b) invalid care allowance, (c) mobility allowance, (f) industrial disablement pension, (g) war disablement pension or (h) retirement pension.

The following table gives the information available on the dates listed:

Greenock Port Glasgow
(d) Invalidity benefit1
As at 31 January 1989 4,463 2,008
As at 15 January 1985 3,481 1,446
(e) Severe disablement allowance
As at 31 January 1989 393 256
As at 15 January 1985 311 211
(i) Income support
As at 30 November 1988 11,423 4,708
(j) Supplementary benefit
As at 18 November 1987 12,338 5,369
As at 6 December 1983 9,720 4,128
As at 27 November 1979 6,317 2,814
1 Includes an unknown number of sickness benefit claimants as separate records of sickness/invalidity benefit claimants are not kept.

Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.

Note: With the exception of supplementary benefit, comparable figures for five years and 10 years ago are no longer held.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the take-up rate of benefits since the introduction of the income support scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Sir I. Gilmour) on 8 February at column713.