HC Deb 20 January 1994 vol 235 cc800-1W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to hs answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 299, if he will provide the names and the organisations represented in the experts convened as a group to consider the details of the proposed objective medical test for incapacity benefit.

Mr. Scott

We have asked that panel members respect confidentiality until the exercise is completed. Subsequently, we intend to publish a report containing the membership of the panel, a summary of its work and findings and the results of the evaluation exercise.

The report will be published before regulations are laid.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated savings to his Department of abolishing age allowances for claimants of incapacity benefit who are over 45 years of age.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 17 January 1994]: It is estimated that abolishing the age allowances for people receiving the long-term rate of incapacity benefit who become incapacitated aged over 45 will provide net savings of less than £5 million in 1995–96 and around £15 million in 1996–97.

Note: Estimates, expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, are rounded to the nearest £5 million and are net of income-related benefit offsets. The estimates take account of the planned changes to additional pension and adult dependency increases.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated savings to his Department of abolishing the additional pension with the introduction of incapacity benefit.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 17 January 1994]: It is estimated that abolishing additional pension for people who start receiving long-term incapacity benfit after April 1995 will produce net -savings of around £20 million in 1995–96 and around £130 million in 1996–97.

Note: Estimates, expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, are rounded to the nearest £10 million and are net of offsetting changes in expenditure on age allowances and income-related benefits.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated savings to his Department of delaying payment of a higher rate of incapacity benefit after a year.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 17 January 1994]: It is estimated that extending the qualifying period for the long-term of incapacity benefit will produce net savings of around £110 million in 1995–96 and around £150 million in 1996–97.

Notes

1. Estimates expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, are rounded to the nearest £10 million and are net of offsetting changes in income-related benefit expenditure.

2. Estimates take account of the effect on incapacity benefit recipients of the planned changes in the qualifying conditions for the disability premium paid with the income-related benefits.