HC Deb 13 July 1993 vol 228 cc477-8W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will break down the figure for those persons in receipt of invalidity benefit in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Benefits Agency district by the nature of the disability.

Mr. Scott

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each year since the inception of the scheme the number of people of retirement age who have continued to draw invalidity benefit.

Mr. Scott

The information is not available. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 25 June at column323 for information about the numbers of invalidity benefit claimants over state pension age.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what saving in expenditure by his Department would have resulted from abolishing the earnings-related additional pension for all new invalidity benefit claims for the year 1992–93; and what savings he estimates would be made in 1994–95.

Mr. Scott

The information is in the table.

Year Estimated savings
£ million
1992–93 75
1994–95 365

Note: Estimates are expressed in cash terms and take account of associated changes in income-related benefit expenditure.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the growth in invalidity benefit payments since 1978–79 is explained by demographic change.

Mr. Scott

Information is not available in the form

However, around 2 per cent. of the growth in the invalidity benefit caseload during the period May 1979 to March 1992 can be accounted for by changes in the size and structure (ie age and sex profile) of the population of Great Britain.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many males and females in receipt of invalidity benefit in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Benefits Agency district are aged(a) under 30, (b) 31 to 44, (c) 45 to 55 and (d) over 55 years.

Mr. Scott

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many males and females in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Benefits Agency district were in receipt of invalidity benefit for each year since 1987.

Mr. Scott

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not available in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.