§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims there have been for the new incapacity benefit within the Merthyr benefit district; and how many of these were claimants with mental health problems; [4102]
(2) how many claims for incapacity benefit have been made since April in the Merthyr benefit area; how many of these have been from (a) men and (b) women; and how many have been successful. [4100]
§ Mr. BurtThis is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter front Peter Mathison to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 13 December 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about how many claims there have been for the new Incapacity Benefit within the Merthyr benefit district; how many of these were claimants with mental health problems; how many of the new claims have been from (a) men and (b) women; and how many have been successful.Information is not available in the format requested. Statistics on the number of new claims are collated at District level. There have been 6,230 new claims for Incapacity Benefit, during the period 13 April to 1 December, in the Eastern Valleys District. This District comprises of the Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare. Bargoed and Caerphilly offices.Information about how many customers within the Merthyr Tydfil office who have claimed Incapacity Benefit and who are suffering with mental health problems could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.Statistics are not kept on the number of men or women who have claimed Incapacity Benefit.Figures for the number of successful claims to Incapacity Benefit are not available. Statistics are only available for the number of claims disallowed. In the Merthyr Tydfil office, 310 claims to Incapacity Benefit were disallowed during the period 13 April 1995 to 1 December 1995. This figure may include claims made before 13 April 1995.I hope you find this reply helpful.