Sickness Benefit

HC Deb 07 June 1993 vol 226 cc141-2W

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Wales have applied for sickness benefit for each month since January 1992; and if he will indicate the total cost of these benefits.

Mr. Scott

Information is not available in the form requested. Available information about benefit claims is in the table and relates to the Benefits Agency's Wales area directorate; the boundaries of which do not correspond exactly with those of Wales. Expenditure on sickness benefit in Great Britain was estimated to be £315 million in the year 1992–93.

Month	Sickness and Invalidity benefit claims
January 1992	9,000
February 1992	8,000
March 1992	8,000
April 1992	7,000
May 1992	6,000
June 1992	7,000
July 1992	8,000
August 1992	7,000
September 1992	8,000
October 1992	8,000

Month	Sickness and Invalidity benefit claims
November 1992	8,000
December 1992	7,000
January 1993	8,000
February 1993	7,000
March 1993	8,000
April 1993	7,000