§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimate for the number of people in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Derbyshire who will no longer be eligible for severe disability premium after 11 November.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe arrangements in Great Britain, including Derbyshire, should ensure that no one who has secured the premium prior to 21 October will lose it after 11 November. The arrangements made in Northern Ireland are the responsibility for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for severe disability premium 405W were made in each of the years since its conception, and at what cost; how many reviews for non-award were requested; and how many were accepted.
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 5 November 1991]: The severe disability premium is a component of income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit, and is not the subject of a separate claim. Information on the number of reviews for non-awards is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The number of people not receiving income support but receiving housing benefit and community charge benefit, which included the severe disability premium, is not available prior to May 1990. However, the figures for May 1990 are 9,000 people for housing benefit and 17,000 for community charge benefit. The number of people receiving income support which included the severe disability premium on a particular day is as follows:
May Number 1988 35,000 1989 45,000 1990 62,000 Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total full year cost of increases in income support limits for people in residential care and nursing homes announced in the last two years.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe estimated full-year cost of the April 1991 increase in residential care and nursing home limits is £225 million and for the April 1992 increase, £190 million.