HC Deb 23 October 1995 vol 264 cc482-3W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people have been found capable of work under the all-work test of incapacity in each of the quarters ended June and September; and how many of these were (i) previously receiving invalidity benefit and (ii) new claimants of incapacity benefit; [38503]

(2) how many people who have failed to return the IB50 within the time allowed and without good cause were (a) previously receiving invalidity benefit and (b) new claimants of incapacity benefit; [38504]

(3) how many examinations have been scheduled where the claimant has failed to attend; in how many of these the claimant had good cause for non-attendance; and how many of the non-attenders were (a) previously receiving invalidity benefit and (b) new claimants of incapacity benefit; [38505]

(4) how many of the IB50 all-work test questionnaires have been issued by his Department in each of the quarters ended June and September; how many of these have been returned within the time allowed; and how many of these have not been returned where there was no good cause for the delay; [38506]

(5) how many medical examinations for the all-work test of incapacity have taken place in each of the quarters ended June and September; and how many in each quarter were (a) previously receiving invalidity benefit and (b) new claimants of incapacity benefit. [38507]

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the form requested. The information available is in the table.

The data reflects activity during a time when the take-on of cases has been carefully controlled to match capacity as experience of the new procedures grows. It is not representative and it is too early to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of the new procedures.

Quarter to end of June Quarter to end of September
All work test questionnaires issued 314,555 258,725
Questionnaires returned1 213,800 195,310
Examinations2 8,212 88,485
Failed to return questionnaire (IB50) without good cause 733 1,927
Found capable of work following all work test 1,152 17,743
1 Customers have six weeks in which to return the questionnaire. Figures for questionnaires returned includes some questionnaires which may have been returned outside the time limits but no decision has been taken on whether there has been good cause for delay.
2 A significant proportion of customers have failed to attend for medical examination. As most of these cases have yet to be adjudicated upon it is not possible to say how many have good cause for not attending.

1. Figures include only incapacity benefit claimants and are subject to change.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who have been found capable of work have lodged an appeal against this decision in each of the quarters ended June and September; how many of these were(a) previously receiving invalidity benefit, and (b) new claimants of incapacity benefit; and how many appeals are outstanding. [38510]

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the format requested. Information on how many of these appeals were made by people previously receiving invalidity benefit or how many were made by new claimants of incapacity benefit is not available.

The figures that are available are in the table.

Quarter ending June 1995 Quarter ending September 1995
Lodged 170 7,095
Outstanding n/a 6,520