HC Deb 25 May 1993 vol 225 cc561-2W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration his Department has given to the Policy Studies Institute's findings from a survey of disabled people entitled "Paying For Independence", a copy of which has been sent to him; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

I have read with interest the first findings of the research undertaken by the Policy Studies Institute, and I look forward to reading it when it is published in the autumn.

Date Numbers whose UB was extinguished due to receipt of an occupational or personal pension Numbers whose UB was reduced due to receipt of an Occupational Or personal pension
Men Women Total Men Women Total
November 1982 3,900 16,300
November 1983 1,200 9,500
November 1984 1,000 9,700
November 1985 1,200 9,100
November 1986 1,100 10,700
November 1987 600 8,200
November 1988 700 6,700
November 1989 4,700 300 5,000 7,700 500 8,200
November 1990 4,100 200 4,300 7,600 500 8,100
November 1991 7,900 400 8,400 14,400 1,100 15,500
November 1992 10,900 900 11,800 16,600 1,600 18,200

Notes:

1 Source: Half-yearly analysis of unemployed claimants.

2 No information was available for 1981 due to industrial action.

3 The age threshold for abatement of UB by an occupational pension was reduced from age 60 to age 55 from 1 January 1989.

4 The abatement rule was extended to include personal pensions from 9 October 1989.

5 A separate breakdown for men and women is not available for the years up to 1988. However, the number of women in the total figure for these years is believed to be negligible as it would only have applied to the small number of women who claimed UB after the age of 60 years and who received occupational pensions of an amount in excess of the threshold.