§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number(a) invalidity/disability premium claimants for fit for (a) work and (b) for light work in the past 12 months for each of his Department's benefit offices covering the Doncaster and Mexboroguh area; and what was the comparative figure for the previous 12 months. [39561]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of incapacity benefits is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 31 October 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number (a) of invalidity/disability premium claimants found fit for (a) work and (b) for light work in the past 12 months for each of his Department's benefit offices covering the Doncaster and Mexborough area; and what was the comparative figure for the previous 12 months.
Invalidity Benefit was replaced by Incapacity Benefit from 13 April 1995. Disability premium is payable as part of Income Support. A customer who receives Incapacity Benefit may also receive Income Support which could include a disability premium.
Information is not available in the form requested. Statistics are only available for the numbers of customers failing the All Work Test on a national basis from 13 April to the end of June this year. They are available at a local level from July 1995. Figures are not available to show the breakdown into Incapacity Benefit or disability premium as separate statistics are not kept on the type of benefit entitlement at the time of the decision.
334WThe number of customers failing the All Work Test from July to September, in the Mexborough and Doncaster area, are as follows:
Mexbourgh Doncaster July 1995 10 11 August 1995 20 50 September 1995 40 87 The Doncaster figures include both Doncaster West and Doncaster East Benefits Agency offices.
The Incapacity Benefit scheme does not have a category of "fit for light work" as it is based on either the customers Own Occupation or All Work Tests.
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