HC Deb 25 January 1994 vol 236 cc187-90W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated saving to his Department of delaying payment of the child dependant's allowance payable with incapacity benefit until the 52nd week of incapacity.

Mr. Scott

It is estimated that there will be a net saving of £5 million a year as a result of the effect on entitlement to child dependency increases of the 52nd week qualifying period for long-term incapacity benefit.

Note:

Estimate expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, rounded to nearest £5 million and is net of offsetting changes and expenditure on income-related benefits.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of invalidity benefit are(a) in receipt of the higher rate of the care component of disability living allowance and (b) are currently over the age of 57 years.

Mr. Scott

On 4 April 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 726,000 people aged 57 or over receiving invalidity benefit1. Reliable estimates of the number of invalidity benefit claimants also receiving the higher rate of care component of disability living allowance are not available.

Note:

1 Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to make the 80 per cent. disablement test for severe disablement allowance.

Mr. Scott

None.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) claimed and (b) were awarded non-contributory sickness benefit (i) between April 1992 and April 1993, (ii) since April 1993 and (iii) in total since April 1983.

Mr. Scott

Information is not routinely kept in the form requested. Information that is readily available is in the table. An estimate of the total since April 1983 will require researching of archived data. I shall write again to the hon. Member as soon as the figure is available. Information from April 1992 is currently unavailable.

Spells of sickness benefit which commenced in the statistical period as the result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease where the contribution conditions were deemed satisfied
Statistical Period Number of sickness benefit spells commencing where the contribution position was deemed satisfied
2 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 6,000
1 April 1991 to 4 April 1992 3,000

Notes:

1. Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. A spell of incapacity is a single period of sickness for which an individual may have more than one in the statistical period.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent the rules permitting therapeutic work will continue after April 1995 for(a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance; what will be the rules concerning limitations on (i) the amount of earnings which can be kept before benefit entitlement is affected and (ii) the hours per week which may be worked; and what other restrictions will be introduced.

Mr. Scott

Proposals contained in the Incapacity for Work Bill provide for the therapeutic work rule to continue both for the new incapacity benefit and for severe disablement allowance when work undertaken would be of benefit to a person's condition. We intend that current arrangements for limitation of earnings will continue—present level £42.00 per week—and that there should be a weekly limit of 16 hours.

The Incapacity for Work Bill also introduces provision to allow all incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance recipients to undertake voluntary work for up to 16 hours a week with no effect to their benefit.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the two-year linking rule allowing claimants on disability working allowances to requalify for incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance.

Mr. Scott

We have no such plans.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receive invalidity benefit following an award of non-contributory sickness benefit(a) between April 1992 and April 1993, (b) since April 1993 and (c) in total since April 1983.

Mr. Scott

Information is not routinely kept in the form requested. Information that is readily available is in the table. An estimate of the total since April 1983 will require researching of archived data. I shall write again to the hon. Member as soon as the figure is available. Information from April 1992 is currently unavailable.

Spells of invalidity benefit, following an award of sickness benefit, which commenced in the statistical period as the result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease where the contribution conditions were deemed satisfied
Statistical period Number of invalidity benefit spells commencing where the contribution position was deemed satisfied
2 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 4,000
1 April 1991 to 4 April 1992 1,000

Notes:

1. Based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants in Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. A spell of incapacity is a single period of sickness for which an individual may have more than one in the statistical period.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated saving of his Department of

Value of Child Support1 for each child in standard rate tax paying families at April 19932 prices
Date3 Children under age 11 Children aged 11–15 Children aged 16 and over
1st child £ 2nd child £ 3rd4 child £ 1st child £ 2nd child £ 3rd4 child £ 1st child £ 2nd child £ 3rd4 child £
April 1964 8.62 11.33 12.13 10.43 13.13 13.93 12.33 15.14 15.85
April 1965 8.64 11.30 11.87 10.54 13.11 13.77 12.44 15.01 15.68
April 1966 8.35 10.91 11.46 10.18 12.66 13.30 12.01 14.49 15.14
April 1967 8.04 10.60 10.92 9.89 12.29 12.91 11.66 14.07 14.69
April 1968 7.75 9.72 10.31 9.46 11.42 11.94 11.17 13.05 13.64
April 1969 7.35 9.61 10.17 8.97 11.23 11.79 10.58 12.85 13.33
April 1970 6.96 9.11 9.63 8.49 10.63 11.17 10.02 12.16 12.62
April 1971 8.11 10.28 10.76 9.37 11.60 12.10 10.69 12.87 13.35
April 1972 7.63 9.67 10.13 8.81 10.91 11.38 10.06 12.10 12.56
April 1973 6.92 8.67 9.10 8.19 9.88 10.30 9.21 10.90 11.31
April 1974 7.94 9.41 9.77 9.15 10.51 10.92 10.14 11.50 11.92
April 1975 6.96 9.62 9.62 7.94 10.62 10.62 8.81 11.51 11.51
April 1976 7.30 9.57 9.57 8.13 10.41 10.41 8.88 11.13 11.13
April 1977 7.01 8.03 8.03 7.72 8.74 8.74 8.33 9.32 9.32
April 1978 8.36 8.36 8.36 9.01 9.01 9.01 9.55 9.55 9.55
April 1979 10.36 10.36 10.36 10.36 10.36 10.36 10.36 10.36 10.36
November 1980 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61
November 1981 9.49 9.49 9.49 9.49 9.49 9.49 9.49 9.49 9.49
November 1982 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95
November 1983 10.54 10.54 10.54 10.54 10.54 10.54 10.54 10.54 10.54
November 1984 10.58 10.58 10.58 10.58 10.58 10.58 10.58 10.58 10.58
November 1985 10.26 10.26 10.26 10.26 10.26 10.26 10.26 10.26 10.26
July 1986 10.24 10.24 10.24 10.24 10.24 10.24 10.24 10.24 10.24
April 1987 10.01 10.01 10.01 10.01 10.01 10.01 10.01 10.01 10.01
April 1988 9.63 9.63 9.63 9.63 9.63 9.63 9.63 9.63 9.63
April 1989 8.92 8.92 8.92 8.92 8.92 8.92 8.92 8.92 8.92
April 1990 8.14 8.14 8.14 8.14 8.14 8.14 8.14 8.14 8.14
April 1991 8.71 7.66 7.66 8.71 7.66 7.66 8.71 7.66 7.66
October 1991 9.63 7.81 7.81 9.63 7.81 7.81 9.63 7.81 7.81
April 1992 9.78 7.90 7.90 9.78 7.90 7.90 9.78 7.90 7.90
April 1993 10.00 8.10 8.10 10.00 8.10 8.10 10.00 8.10 8.10

Notes:

1 The combined value of child tax allowance after clawback and family allowance/child benefit.

2 Based on the movement in the general index of retail prices at April 1993.

3 Child tax allowance ceased after the 1978–79 tax year and uprating dates are shown from 1979 onwards.

4 And subsequent children.

delaying payment of the full rate of adult dependant's allowance payable with incapacity benefit until the 52nd week of incapacity.

Mr. Scott

It is estimated that there will be a net saving of £5 million a year as a result of the effect on the payable rate of adult dependency increases of the 52-week qualifying period for long-term incapacity benefit.

Note:

Estimate expressed in constant 1993–94 prices, rounded to the nearest £5 million and is net of offsetting changes and expenditure on income-related benefits. Estimate takes account of other planned changes in the qualifying conditions for adult dependency increases of incapacity benefit.

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