§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the current position of the appeal against the commissioner's decision concerning the rate of invalidity benefit paid to women after they reach pension age, with particular reference to the deliberations of the European Court of Justice; and when he expects the appeal to be(a) heard by the Court of Appeal and (b) concluded. [35705]
§ Mr. BurtThe hearing before the European Court of Justice took place on 6 April 1995 and the Advocate General's opinion was published on 15 June. The timing of the European Court's judgment, and of the subsequent hearing by the Court of Appeal, are matters for the courts.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of people present claiming invalidity benefit in the London borough of Wandsworth. [34075]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of invalidity benefit is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefit Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 18 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of people claiming Invalidity Benefit in the London Borough of Wandsworth.With effect from 13 April 1995, Invalidity Benefit (IVB) and Sickness Benefit were replaced by Incapacity Benefit (IB). Claims for IB from customers resident in the Borough of Wandsworth are 1495W dealt with by the Benefits Agency (BA) South West Thames District. These claims are, however, processed at the BA Broadstairs Benefit Office which also administers IB claims for residents of London Central District.Separate statistics relating to the numbers of IB customers resident in the Borough of Wandsworth are not kept and could only be available at disproportionate cost.I am sorry that this reply could not be more helpful.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Mr. P. Sutton, national insurance number ZS 06 67 D, will receive information about the gross earning figures used to calculate his additional pension paid with invalidity benefit. [35152]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of invalidity benefit is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 18 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about when Mr. P. Sutton, national insurance number ZS 06 52 67 D, will receive information about the gross earnings figures used to calculate his additional pension paid with his Invalidity Benefit.A full reply, informing Mr. Sutton of the earnings figures used in the calculation of his Invalidity Benefit and subsequent Incapacity Benefit, was issued on 14 July 1995.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Number in receipt of one or more means-testedbenefit000s Number in receipt of Income Support 000s Average weekly payment Number in receipt of Family Credit 000s Average weekly payment Number in receipt of Housing Benefit 000s Average weekly payment Number in receipt of Council Tax Benefit 000s Average weekly payment Number in receipt of Community Charge Benefit 000s Average weekly payment Number in receipt of Disability Working Allowance 000s Average weekly payment 1990 8,090 4,180 38.52 315 28.23 3,975 21.48 0 0 6,500 5.53 0 0 1991 7,970 4,487 46.52 347 31.32 4,022 25.40 0 0 6,330 3.43 0 0 1992 8,410 5,088 51.89 397 37.69 4,320 30.03 0 0 6,550 4.23 0 0 1993 8,530 5,643 54.77 488 43.34 4,520 33.73 5,251 6.11 0 0 3 36.90 1994 8,480 5,675 55.78 551 47.10 4,650 36.55 5,497 6.38 0 0 4 42.38 Notes:
1. Figures for recipients are rounded to the nearest thousand except for "Numbers in receipt of one or more means-tested benefit" which have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.
2. Average amounts for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit have been rounded to the nearest penny.
3. Figures are for benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.
4. Disability Working Allowance was introduced in April 1992.
5. Council Tax Benefit replaced Community Charge Benefit from April 1993.
6. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit figures exclude cases where there is no entitlement only because of non-dependent deductions.
7. Council Tax Benefit figures do not include second adult rebates.