§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals are currently claiming invalidity benefit in(a) the county of Cleveland and (b) in the boroughs of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Langbaurgh.
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§ Mr. ScottThe administration of invalidity benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 28 April 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many individuals are currently claiming Invalidity Benefit in (a) the County of Cleveland and (b) in the Boroughs of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Langbaurgh.
The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportinate cost. However, the latest statistics available from the Agency's North Tees District and South Tees District Offices, which include the areas concerned in the question, show a total of 27,777 customers in receipt of Invalidity Benefit. As Agency District boundaries do not correspond with county or borough boundaries this figure includes some customers living in areas other than those listed in the question.
Listed below are the figures available for each Office within the North Tees District and South Tees District.
Number of recipients currently in receipt of Invalidity Benefit Number North Tees District Stockton-on-Tees District Office 7,545 Hartlepool Branch Office 5,368 South Tees District Middlesbrough District Office (including Tees South Branch Office) 7,108 Easton Branch Office 3,355 Redcar Branch Office 4,401 I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.